NIF Fall 2023 Study Tour – Fighting for the Future of Israel’s Democracy

Please note: this is a draft of the itinerary for the upcoming Study Tour. Once it is finalized, it will be emailed to participants in the form of an easily downloadable PDF.

Wednesday, November 1: Orientation to this Moment in Israel-Palestine

• Understanding the Democratic Crisis in Israel  – Presentation from Israeli Legal Experts and Scholars
• Voices from the Pro-Democracy Protests – Conversation with Activists, Politicians and Civil Society Leaders
• Dinner with NIF leadership

Thursday, November 2: Palestinian-Israeli Society

• A tour of Palestinian-Arab villages in the Galilee with Shatil-Haifa
• “We Want To Live” – Meeting with the women activists leading the Struggle Against Gun Violence and Crime in Israel’s Palestinian towns

Friday, November 3: Israel in the Middle East

• Israel’s Foreign Policy: Realities and Opportunities with leading Israeli foreign policy experts
• Emerging Models for Peace: With thought leaders committed to innovative resolutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Saturday, November 4: Shabbat in Tel Aviv

• Walking Tour of Jaffa: On Life in a Mixed Jewish-Arab City and the Challenges of Gentrification
• Lunch in Jaffa

Sunday, November 5: The Reality of Palestinian Life Under Occupation and the Co-Resistance Movement 

• A journey to the South Hebron Hills and Massafer Yatta. Meeting with Palestinians and Israelis working together to resist the occupation and combat settler violence 

Monday, November 6: East Jerusalem

• A Geopolitical Walking Tour of the Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif
• Lunch in the Old City
• The fight for Gender and LGBTQ Rights under the current government – meeting with women and LGBTQ activists

Tuesday, November 7: Religion and State 

• “Leftists of Faith”- with leaders of Israel’s emerging progressive-religious movement
• Culinary Tour of Machane Yehuda Market
• The Politics of Heritage Sites – a conversation on the politicization of antiquities

Wednesday, November 8: NIF’s Emergency Response and long-term vision

• NIF’s “Hub for the Protection of Civic Space”- An for Innovative Model to Protect Civil Society and Defend Democracy in times of crisis
• Rapid Response Grantmaking: Conversations with NGO leadership about the power of NIF’s emergency funding
• The future of Israel’s progressive-liberal camp: a conversation with emerging thought leaders
• Closing Dinner with NIF leadership and staff