Arrived Safely

We made it to Israel safely. Internet access thus far has been sparse, but when I get a longer opportunity I will write more about what we are doing here. We started classes today and will continue an intense class schedule for a few days before heading to the field for more practical, hands-on experience. Check back tonight for another post.

The Verdict Is In...

At approximately 3:15 this afternoon I received an email updating me on the current situation in Israel and where that situation leaves the FDD trip to Israel which I am attending. After much thought and consideration, those in charge of the trip have decided that it would be in the best interest of all parties involved to go to Israel on Saturday as planned. Although the itinerary will have to sustain some modifications, those in charge have determined that, since this particular trip cannot be postponed, it can still, despite any increased danger, be educational, informative and fun.

As for me, I am thrilled. I am looking forward to travelling to Israel with the other students who are going, only one of whom I know. It will be a very eye-opening experience, and likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The email I received was very thorough, so if any of you have questions as to how this decision was made, let me know and I can explain it in greater detail.

I will be updating my blog again on Saturday sometime before my flight leaves for Israel, so please check back regularly starting Saturday.

What am I doing?

Although I have not received an official word yet from the directors of the program I am participating in, I am going to assume that I am still going to Israel. Some of you might ask: Why would you go to Israel? Well, I could take that question to have many meanings, but I will address only two - why am I going to Israel in general irrespective of regional conditions, and why am I even considering going to Israel for any reason whatsoever considering the current regional conditions. As someone asked me, "Don't you know that they're having a war over there?"

First, why am I going to Israel in general? I am participating in the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Undergraduate Fellowship on Terrorism. The following is the description of the program from the FDD website.

"The course of study in Tel Aviv features several days of lectures from experts in the field of terrorism who will focus on issues relating to the threat that terrorism poses to democracies around the world. FDD Fellows will have an opportunity to hear from academics, politicians, intelligence and military officials, and diplomats from Israel, Jordan, India, Turkey and the United States...

"In Israel, participants also travel to border zones, visit military and police facilities, and engage in hands-on, live-fire exercises to learn more about the practical realities of combating terrorists."

Doesn't that sound exciting? I'm excited about it. Here is an article about the Fellowship from the UGA website as well.

Now, why would I even consider going to Israel now? First, the decision to go does not lie with me. I am trusting FDD to make that decision, and all of the participants have been assured that our safety is of primary importance. They have connections with some very important people in the Israeli Defense Force and the Israeli government. Additionally, the know people in the US government, particularly in the State Department. From all of these sources they can get first-hand information regarding the situation in Israel from which they can make a much more informed decision regarding the safety of this trip. Bottom line, FDD knows much more about the situation than I do, and if they are going to take me, I trust them, and I am going to go.

Secondly, I really want to go. I am fascinated the the subject of terrorism (as a clarification, I am not fascinated by the practice of terrorism but by what surrounds it such as the underlying causes, the decision-making process, and ultimately, how to combat it), and as a student of this subject, I see going to Israel at the present moment as an incredible opportunity to see first-hand (as I have titled the blog, Up Close and Personal) what is really going on in the Middle East. That having been said, I do value my life more than my education, so I am only going to go if FDD considers it safe enough to bring me.

I hope this clears some things up. 'Til next time, Peace in the Middle East!

First Post

Thanks for reading. This blog is a journal of my upcoming two-week trip to Israel to study about democracy and terrorism at Tel Aviv University. Hopefully I can use my experience to bring you first hand information and pictures of how a democratic country deals first hand with the threat and reality of terrorism.

As all of you have no doubt seen in the news lately, Israel is in the midst of a rather serious conflict with its northern neighbor, Lebanon. Hizballah, a terrorist organization sponsored by Iran, has made southern Lebanon its stronghold and is attempting to destroy Israel.

In spite of the current situation, my trip to Israel has not yet been cancelled. With the situation in its current state, I will still go, and the group with which I am going will take every necessary precaution to guarantee our safety. A final decision as to whether or not the group will go will be made next week prior to my July 29th departure, but it is looking like the trip is still on.

Although I do not know how often I will be able to post, I will try to do so often. I will also post links to several articles and websites and a list books on the topic of terrorism and democracy for those who are interested in doing further research and reading.

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you.