Green Olive Tours Newsletters

2011-04-28T10:03:00.001+03:00

West Bank Maps

Download Maps outlining the political geography of the region.

Jerusalem Old City Map

View or download this map of Jerusalem's Old City, including locations of settler homes.

Multi-Day Tours

• 3 Days in a Village - Be embedded in a Palestinian village. Meet farmers, learn about the issues.

• 4 Days - Stay with a family in Bethlehem. visit 4 cities in the West Bank.

• 7 Days - Combination of village and family home-stay with touring to cities.

• 10 days - Village experience, plus touring 4 cities, plus 3 days volunteer work in village.

Scheduled Day-Tours

Every Day
Jerusalem Old City
Every Sunday
Jaffa/Tel Aviv
Jericho,Qumran,Dead Sea
Every Monday:
Greater Jerusalem
Every Tuesday:
Bethlehem
Taybeh Village
Jerusalem Seam Line
Every Wednesday:
Nablus
Jerusalem-Silwan
Jerusalem-East & West
Every Thursday:
Hebron & Bethlehem
Every Friday:
Central West Bank
Masada/Dead Sea
Meet the Settlers
Every Saturday:
Bethlehem & Ramallah
Hebron
Bedouin Reality Tour

____________________

Special Day-Tours

Jerusalem Black Panthers
Jenin & Nablus

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service.

Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Like our FaceBook Page

FORUM

BLOG

Affiliate Program

Become an affiliate and earn $$$ while promoting a great service.

Job opportunity at
Green Olive Tours

Spring 2011

Dear Friends,

This year is shaping up to be a pivotal period for all of us here. The Palestinian Authority is gearing up to declare a state in September
while the Israeli government is doing its best to thwart such a unilateral move. This morning's news brought details of an Egyptian-brokered reconcilliation deal between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Stay tuned for more excitement in the months to come.

In the meanwhile come back and visit us again. More great tours await you and your friends. Forward this newsletter widely. Thanks.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka, Director

_____________________________________

What's New on the Green Olive Blog?

➜ Check out Green Olive Tours competitors - settler organizations doing tours in the West Bank . . . . . See the video. There's also a new Settler Tour by Green Olive Tours - see below.

➜ This guest blog post by Gaye Paterson details her experiences and reflections about a tour she took to Bethlehem

. . . . . . Read more.

➜ Fred Schomka's recent article published in CounterPunch, 'Is the Occupation Over', provides up to the minute analysis of events on the ground and encourages readers to think 'out of the box' when considering the future of the region.

. . . . . . Read the article.

➜ Mark Thomas's new book is out, 'Extreme Rambling'. Read his Guardian article with details about his hiking adventures with Fred & colleagues from Green Olive Tours.

We are always looking for guest blog posts. If you have been to Israel/Palestine and have an interesting story to tell then send it on to us.

It can be published with your name attached, or anonymously. The best blog posts are usually only 3 or 4 paragraphs. Photographs welcome.

Send your blog posts to us here.

New Settler Tour

This new half-day tour is hosted by Bruce Brill, a resident of Kfar Eldad, a tiny settlement next to Nokdi-im, where Israel's foreign Minister, Avigdor Liberman lives.

Visitors can take a tour with Bruce and learn about his philosophy and rationale for living in the West Bank.

Most visitors come to Israel/Palestine and either spend most of their time in the Israeli/Jewish milieu or with Palestinians in the West Bank. Green Olive Tours now offers an opportunity to go deep into the world of the settlers and see first hand how they live and why they are there.

See the details here.

New Hebron Tour

Glass workshop in Hebron

Due to popular Demand we have added a Hebron day-trip every Saturday departing from Jerusalem. Our Hebron/Bethlehem tour on Thursdays has consistently been the most popular tour so we wanted to offer the opportunity to visit Hebron for an entire day.

The tour includes visiting Abraham's Tomb and the Old City of Hebron. Walking the Old City brings home the bizarre nature of the area with Israeli settlers living on top of Palestinian residents who are restricted in their movements.

The tour also visits a glass-blowing workshop and a keffiyeh factory. Lunch is with a local Palestinian family.
. . . . Read more about the tour.

Partner Profile - Old City Net

Green Olive Tours has developed relationships with many fine enterprises in Jerusalem. Old City Net provides high speed internet services and is convenient for visitors and tourists.

Old City Net is in the heart of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, an easy walk from Jaffa Gate or New Gate, and close to many hostels and hotels.

Open daily from early morning till midnight.

Please click here for more information.

You have received this newsletter because you have signed up for it, gone on one of our tours, or otherwise have indicated an interest in alternative tours.

Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address.

Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here

Green Olive Tours, PO Box 5049, Kfar Saba, 44150 Israel

Tel:+972-3-721-9540 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 • USA Tel: 1-800-809-7913 • In Israel Tel: 03-721-9540

Email

2010-10-03T10:24:00.002+03:00

Order or Download
the Green Olive Booklet

Advertise in the next Green Olive Travel Guide.

West Bank Maps

Download Maps outlining the political geography of the region.

Jerusalem Old City Map

View or download this map of Jerusalem's Old City, including locations of settler homes.

Multi-Day Tours

• 3 Days in a Village

• 4 Days in Palestine

• 7 Days in Palestine

Scheduled Day-Tours

____________________

Special Day-Tours

Bedouin Reality Tour

Jerusalem Black Panthers

Jenin & Nablus

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service.

Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Join our FaceBook Group

FORUM

BLOG

Widgets

Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.

TAYBEH OKTOBERFEST 2010
2nd & 3rd October

Dear friends,

Once again it is time for us to celebrate Oktoberfest in Taybeh. This year's celebration will bring together thousands of Palestinian, Israeli, and international visitors for two days of culture, music, conversation, and of course some very fine beer. See you at the festival.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka, Director

_____________________________________

OctoberFest Buses Depart Daily
from Jerusalem & Tel Aviv

Online Reservations

Taybeh is the only all-Christian village in the West Bank, and home to the only Arab-owned micro-brewery in the Middle East, established in 1995 by the Khoury family.

The brewery produces fine beers on a par with the best microbreweries in Europe and the USA. Taybeh is also famous for its handmade olive oil soap, ceramic 'peace lamps', and crafts cooperatives.

Don't miss this opportunity to come together with like-minded people to celebrate Palestinian culture and achievement.

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . Mother Theresa

PROGRAM

Saturday 2nd October:
1pm Al Ahlam Theatre

1.25pm Sri Lanka Traditional Dancers

1.45pm Baiao Band from Brazil

3.00pm Karate Demonstration

3.15pm CYS-Zababdeh/ Puppet Show GroupCYS Puppet Show

4.00pm Taybeh Beer Competition

4.30pm Dom Band/Jerusalem

5,15 pm G-Town Palestinian Hip-Hop Makers

6:15 pm Taybeh Folklore Dance

7.00pm CULTURESHOC: Palestine’s 1st Rock-Rap Band

8:00 pm MMD Rap Family

9:00 pm Ramallah Band with Jack Tanous

Sunday 3rd October:
11:00 am   Palestinian National Theater/Al-Hakawati - Childrens program

1:00 pm Karate Demonstration

1:15 pm Spafford Children’s Center

3:00 pm   Toot Ard/Golan Heights Reggae Music

4:00 pm   Beer Competition

4:30 pm   Baqoun Folklore Dance Group

5:15 pm   Al Roward Theater and Training Center

6:00 pm   Old City Soldiers Hip HopCYS Puppet Show

6:45 pm   Mina Band with Nazal Zanyed

7:45 pm   Taybeh Folkore Dance Group

8:30 pm   DAM - Palestinian Hip Hop

Daily departures from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Click here for more information and online bus reservations.

Green Olive Tours, PO Box 5049, Kfar Saba, 44150 Israel

Tel:+972-3-721-9540 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 • USA Tel: 1-800-809-7913 • In Israel Tel: 03-721-9540

Email

2010-07-23T17:09:00.006+03:00

Preferences

This newsletter was sent to [email]. If your address has changed, or you want to change your preferences, please take a moment to update
your preferences here.

Order or Download

the Green Olive Booklet

Advertise in the next Green Olive Travel Guide.

West Bank Maps

Download Maps outlining the political geography of the region.

Jerusalem Old City Map

View or download this map of Jerusalem's Old City, including locations of settler homes.

Multi-Day Tours

• 3 Days in a Village
• 4 Days in Palestine
• 7 Days in Palestine

Scheduled Day-Tours

____________________

Special Day-Tours

Bedouin Reality Tour
Jerusalem Black Panthers
Jenin & Nablus

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service.

Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Join our FaceBook Group

FORUM

BLOG

Widgets

Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.

Summer 2010

Dear friends,

We are well into our dry season and the summer heat is at its peak. The tourist season this year was impacted by the World Cup and I think that a fair number of football couch potatoes were staying glued to the TV screen until the frenzy was over. There are now large numbers of visitors to the country. According to the Israel tourism Ministry over 1.6 million people have visited during the first six months of 2010.

In the meanwhile Green Olive Tours continues to grow with the publication of our first booklet that details our tours. You can order the booklet online or download it from the website. We encourage you to order multiple copies and help our distribution in your country.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka, Director
_____________________________________

What's New on the Green Olive Blog?

➜ Mitchell from San Francisco breezed through the country recently and send us an interesting personal anecdote to post on the blog. A little humor at a checkpoint of an Arab/Jewish community in Israel. . . . . Read more.

➜ The new Samaritan Museum is now open on Mount Grizim, presided over by Priest Husney Cohen. . . . . . Read more.

➜ Some of you may know about the 'Israeli only' road, route 443, that slices through the West Bank Northwest of Jerusalem. Recently a limited amount of Palestinian traffic was permitted on the road, and a roadside café was established by a settler at the new entrance to the Gvat Ze'ev settlement. Espresso anyone? - just meters from the separation barrier, complete with rolls of razor wire and fine views of captive Palestinian villages beyond . . . . . . Read more about this bizarre café.

We are always looking for guest blog posts. If you have been to Israel/Palestine and have an interesting story to tell then send it on to us. It can be published with your name attached, or anonymously. The best blog posts are usually only 3 or 4 paragraphs. Photographs welcome.

Occupation Roundup

This past month has seen an upswing in home demolitions in Jerusalem, increased repression on non-violent demonstrations, attacks against journalists by the IDF, and ongoing ethnic cleansing in the Bakka Valley, Jordan Valley, and the Negev Desert. Business as usual for the Occupation authorities. See the details here.

Sponsorship & Advertising with
Green Olive Tours

Olive Wood display stand made in Bethlehem

For individuals, businesses and organizations
• Promote your brand or message
• Advertise your product or service
Support our mission
In October 2010, 25,000 copies of the expanded 25-page booklet will be printed, and include:
• Full schedule of tours
• History and current status of the Occupation
• Maps - geopolitical & practical
• Travel information for independent travelers
• Directory of services - hotels, car rental etc.
• Directory of Green Olive Sponsors.
• Display Advertising

We are offering you the opportunity to help sponsor the mission of Green Olive Tours, while also promoting your business or organization to a sophisticated and discriminating International public. Don't miss this great opportunity to partner with Green Olive Tours.

Olive Oil soap Made in Nablus

Premium gifts including packs of booklets, the Olive Wood display stand and and Olive Oil soap are offered to all sponsors and advertisers, plus you will receive a listing on our web site.

Explore this opportunity and reserve your space now.

Researcher seeks travelers/tourists for interviews

Dorina Buda, a Phd. candidate at Waikato University in New Zealand is researching the dynamic between tourism and the political situation in Israel/Palestine and Jordan. She was recently in the country and took several tours. Her work is exploring how the instability affects tourist’s decisions to travel to the region, and their reactions during their trip. If you are currently in Israel/Palestine, have traveled or are planning to travel to the area, then this project might interest you.

Please click here for more information.

Green Olive Tours, PO Box 5049, Kfar Saba, 44150 Israel

Tel:+972-3-721-9540 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 • USA Tel: 1-800-809-7913 • In Israel Tel: 03-721-9540

Email

2010-04-01T14:14:00.003+03:00

Preferences

This newsletter was sent to [email]. If your address has changed, or you want to change your preferences, please take a moment to update
your preferences here.

West Bank Maps

Download Maps outlining the political geography of the region.

Jerusalem Old City Map

View or download this map of Jerusalem's Old City, including locations of settler homes.\

Multi-Day Tours

• 3 Days in a Village
• 4 Days in Palestine
• 7 Days in Palestine

Scheduled Day-Tours

Every Day
Jerusalem Old City
Every Sunday
Jaffa/Tel Aviv
Every Monday:
Greater Jerusalem
Every Tuesday:
Bethlehem
Taybeh Village
Jerusalem Seam Line

Every Wednesday:
Nablus
Jerusalem-Silwan
Jerusalem-East & West
Every Thursday:
Hebron & Bethlehem
Jericho
Every Friday:
Central West Bank
Masada/Dead Sea
Every Saturday:
Bethlehem & Ramallah

____________________

Special Day-Tours

Bedouin Reality Tour
Jerusalem Black Panthers
Jenin & Nablus

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service.

Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Join our FaceBook Group

FORUM

BLOG

Widgets

Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.

April 2010

Dear friends,

We are now 'Green Olive Tours'.
After consulting with clients and colleagues the new name was selected. However the new website address, www.greenolivetours.com, still brings you to the toursinenglish.com website. Over the coming months a new website will be built for Green Olive Tours.

Our ongoing relationship with the village of Beit Ummar has resulted in our first formal summer camp. Please forward the details to your friends and place links to the camp information page on your blogs and websites. Contact me if you are interested in placing a camp banner on your site. We hope to see many of you here this summer. Details below.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka, Director

_____________________________________

2010 Beit Ummar Summer Camp
19th July - 1st August

Beit Ummar village

This two-week camp experience is situated in the Palestinian village of Beit Ummar and is a partnership project between the Palestine Solidarity Project (PSP) and Green Olive Tours.

The Camp is hosted by Mousa Abu-Maria, his wife Bekka, founders of PSP, and Green Olive Tours Director Fred Schlomka.

Beit Ummar is home to the PSP, a movement that conducts non-violent resistance activities against the settlements and the Occupation. The organization also manages social and economic development programs in the village.

The community of Beit Ummar is nestled in the hills south of Bethlehem and surrounded by a pastoral environment of olive groves and fields.

The villagers have lost a great deal of land to the surrounding Israeli settlements, and the local economy is devastated due to the restrictions of the Occupation.

Planting olive trees

The camp is designed to enable international visitors to express solidarity with the villagers, and provide tangible assistance through a variety of productive activities within the community.

In addition there will be briefings, meeting with families, tours to several cities the West Bank, and opportunities to participate in a non-violent civic action (optional) against the Occupation.

Many of the evenings will include featured Palestinian and Israeli speakers and discussion. Wireless internet is available at the PSP office.

Community work will include building a greenhouse, repairing olive grove terraces, fruit picking, activities with youth, and tutoring in English. There is also a woman's embroidery project which is available for participation by women only. . . . . . more information & itinerary

Other Multi-day Tours for 2010

Three multi-day tours are now offered to introduce visitors to Palestinian culture and the realities of life under Occupation. All tours include an introductory briefing with maps and analysis.

3 Days in a Palestinian Village

Visitors are embedded in the village of Beit Ummar, in the heart of the Gush Etzion settlement block south of Bethlehem. The program includes visiting villagers and farmers who have had land confiscated,and a trip to the South Hebron Hills to witness the situation among the poorest of Palestinians who are under continual threat by the settlers.

. . . . . learn more

4 Days - Introduction to Palestine

This tour is based in Beit Sahour, Bethlehem where the guests stay with a family and take daily tours to various cities in the West Bank. The itinerary is designed to give a comprehensive overview of the political situation, visits sites of historical importance, and includes an evening of discussion at the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour. . . . . . learn more

7 Days - Palestine Experience

A combination of the two previous tours, this program provides an intensive experience of touring the West Bank, interaction with local people, and a steep learning curve about the ongoing Occupation. There are opportunities for further involvement through the people and organizations included in the itinerary.

. . . . . learn more

If you wish to receive our newsletters via email, please click here

Green Olive Tours, PO Box 576, Kfar Saba, Israel 44104
Tel:+972-54-693-4433 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 • USA Tel: 1-800-809-7913 • In Israel Tel: 054-693-4433
Email

2010-02-01T14:02:00.002+02:00

Preferences

This newsletter was sent to [email]. If your address has changed, or you want to change your preferences, please take a moment to update
your preferences here.

Bethlehem Christmas 2009

West Bank Maps

Download Maps outlining the political geography of the region.

Jerusalem Old City Map

View or download this map of Jerusalem's Old City, including locations of settler homes.\

Multi-Day Tours

• 3 Days in a Village
• 4 Days in Palestine
• 7 Days in Palestine

Scheduled Day-Tours

Every Day
Jerusalem Old City
Every Sunday
Jaffa/Tel Aviv
Every Monday:
Greater Jerusalem
Every Tuesday:
Bethlehem
Taybeh Village
Jerusalem Seam Line
Every Wednesday:
Nablus
Jerusalem-Silwan
Jerusalem-East & West
Every Thursday:
Hebron & Bethlehem
Jericho
Every Friday:
Central West Bank
Masada/Dead Sea
Every Saturday:
Bethlehem & Ramallah

____________________

Special Day-Tours

Bedouin Reality Tour
Jerusalem Black Panthers
Jenin & Nablus

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service.

Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Join our FaceBook Group

FORUM

BLOG

Widgets

Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.

February 2010

Wishing you a belated happy new year. I hope you have a year filled with peace and prosperity.

The past year was a period of strong growth for our tours. Many new tours were added in 2009, and additional services such as accommodations in the West Bank. Plans for 2010 include the development of alternative tours throughout Israel in order to provide comprehensive touring services to our guests.

Do come and visit soon.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka, Director
_____________________________________

NEW - Daily Old City Tours

Our daily alternative tour of the Old City of Jerusalem was inaugurated during December. A cadre of seven committed guides are dedicated to developing this tour.

Each morning (except Friday) the tour begins with a briefing at the Damascus Gate Travel Center then continues through all the Quarters of the Old City. The guides elaborate on the history of the area, emphasizing the centrality of the Old City to the conflict, and analyzing the situation on the ground.

Religious Jews from various organizations continue to develop settlement homes in and around the Old City as part of their strategy to forestall any possibility of a viable Palestinian State with its capital in East Jerusalem. The tour enables visitors to develop an understanding of this strategy. More information

Multi-day Tours for 2010

Three multi-day tours are now offered to introduce visitors to Palestinian culture and the realities of life under Occupation. All tours include an introductory briefing with maps and analysis.

Featured Article

The Ghettos of Jerusalem

by Fred Schlomka - Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that "Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people, a city reunified so as never again to be divided". Nothing could be further from the truth. Jerusalem today is a city dissected by walls and fences, divided by race, religion and ethnicity, and traumatized by home demolitions, ethnic cleansing, and brutal government policies.

The boundaries of modern Jerusalem include 38 square kilometers inside Israel proper, plus 70 square kilometers of the West Bank territory conquered in 1967, reaching north towards Ramallah, south to Bethlehem and half way to the Dead Sea to the east, encompassing a total of 108 square kilometers. Over one third of the annexed territory was expropriated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continue reading.

Speaking Tour

Fred Schlomka's recent visit to the USA included speaking engagements in various parts of the country, and a TV interview. The topic of the presentations was the possibility of a 'Three-state Solution' - Palestine, Israel and a Union or Con-federation stretching from the river to the sea. Audiences were generally receptive to this expansion of the two-state scenario since the concept includes the right of abode anywhere in the country for all the residents of Palestine and Israel.

This is a theme that Fred will be continuing to develop, and he will return to the USA in September for further discussions and presentations. If you, or an organization you are affiliated with, are interested in hosting a presentation, please contact Fred.

If you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here

ToursinEnglish.com, PO Box 576, Kfar Saba, Israel 44104
Tel:+972-54-693-4433 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 • USA Tel: 1-800-809-7913 • In Israel Tel: 054-693-4433
Email

2009-11-28T20:31:00.001+02:00

Preferences

This newsletter was sent to [email]. If your address has changed, or you want to change your preferences, please take a moment to update
your preferences here
.

Taybeh OktoberFest 2009

West Bank Maps

Download Maps outlining the political geography of the region.

Jerusalem Old City Map

View or download this map of Jerusalem's Old City, including locations of settler homes.\

Introduction to Palestine

4-day tour

• 5 Palestinian cities

• Family hosting

• Meet the people

• Experience the Occupation

• Every month . . more info

Scheduled Day-Tours

Every Sunday

Jaffa/Tel Aviv

Every Monday:

Greater Jerusalem

Jerusalem Old City

Every Tuesday:

Bethlehem

Taybeh Village

Jerusalem Seam Line

Every Wednesday:

Nablus

Every Thursday:

Hebron & Bethlehem

Jericho

Every Friday:

Central West Bank

Masada/Dead Sea

Every Saturday:

Bethlehem & Ramallah

____________________

Special Day-Tours

Bedouin Reality Tour

Jerusalem Black Panthers

Jenin & Nablus

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service.

Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Join our FaceBook Group

FORUM

BLOG

Widgets

Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.

November 2009

Dear friends,

The good news is that more people are taking our alternative tours, up 50% from last year despite a slowdown in tourism in general. This means that the social mission of Tours in English is being fulfilled as people are being exposed to the realities of the Occupation. However on the negative side it looks like we may be heading for another Intifada or political upheaval.

Since the White House has backed down from it's earlier demands for a settlement freeze, the outlook is bleak. Netanyahu's victory over Obama means business as usual in the West Bank, and ever diminishing chances of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state emerging.

If the Palestinian elections are held as planned early next year, Tours in English, in cooperation with Palestinian organizations, will be helping organize an international election monitoring team in Nablus. Let me know if you are interested in joining the team.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka, Director

_____________________________________

Christmas in Bethlehem

The Yultide Season will soon be here and the Holy Land is gearing up for a large influx of visitors. Hopefully you will be among them.

There are several special tours planned over the holiday season. The 24th and 25th December will feature all-day tours from Jerusalem to Bethlehem with our usual mix of political and cultural activities, and a special focus on the festivities at Nativity Square.

More information and reservations

Road Trip & Speaking Tour - January 2010

Fred Schlomka will be on a road trip from Seattle to Boston during the first two weeks in January 2010, visiting both coasts and driving a southern route. (see map) Fred's presentation will include a an overview of his work in developing alternative tourism, analysis of the current situation on the ground, and a discussion of the possibilities for a Union or Confederation of Israel/Palestine.

The route of the tour can be seen here. If you live in one of the areas on the route, or within a few hours drive off the route, then please consider hosting a presentation at your home, or through an organization you are affiliated with. Download the tour flyer.

The tour is being sponsored by AAPER, The American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights. For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact their office.

Contact person: Heidi Schramm tel. (202) 683-8438

or email: speakers@aaper.org

Tipping in Israel & Palestine

To tip or not to tip? Visitors to the region are often confused about local tipping habits. In general Israelis and Palestinians do not tip often. However the expectations for foreign visitors are a little different.

If you are planning a visit to the country, please take a few minutes to review the local tipping practices. This can help avoid awkwardness or embarrassment in some situations. Continue reading.

Justice Tourism Survey

ToursinEnglish.com is pleased to assist a Dutch researcher in exploring the background of Justice Tourism. If you have participated in one of our tours, please consider taking the survey.

‘Justice Tourism’ is a term that describes, in part, the types of tours conducted by ToursinEnglish.com. Please help this important research by filling in this questionnaire. It takes roughly 5 minutes.

Even for those of you that have not taken this type of tour, please take the time to fill in a few questions. Your contributions will still be useful. It’s anonymous and there are no right or wrong answers

The questionnaire can be found here.

Thank you!

Darlene Hodge,

International Tourism Management & Consultancy student

at the NHTV University of Professional Education in Breda, The Netherlands

2009-08-28T15:50:00.003+03:00

West Bank Maps

Due to many requests, the maps used in TIE briefings are now available to view on the website or for download.

Jerusalem Old City Map

View or download this map for an overview of Jerusalem's Old City, including location of settler homes.\

Introduction to Palestine

4-day tour
5 Palestinian cities
Family hosting
Meet the people
Experience the Occupation
Every month . . more info.

Scheduled Day-Tours

Every Sunday
Jaffa/Tel Aviv
Every Monday:
Greater Jerusalem
Jerusalem Old City
Every Tuesday:
Bethlehem
Taybeh Village
Jerusalem Seam Line
Every Wednesday:
Nablus
Every Thursday:
Hebron & Bethlehem
Jericho
Every Friday:
Central West Bank
Masada/Dead Sea
Every Saturday:
Bethlehem & Ramallah

____________________

Special Day-Tours

Bedouin Reality Tour
Jerusalem Black Panthers
Jenin & Nablus

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service.

Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Join our FaceBook Group

FORUM

BLOG

Widgets

Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.

September 2009

Taybeh OktoberFest

The Taybeh Oktoberfest is two days filled with Palestinian music, culture, and of course, beer. This festival is an annual tradition that brings together visitors from abroad, Israelis, and Palestinians.

Buses are departing from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on both days of the festival. Don't miss this celebration of the possible, a time when Israelis and Palestinians come together with their families and live the future - believing that the time will come when justice and peace reigns over the land and events such as the OktoberFest will be the norm.

The Taybeh Brewery, just north of Jerusalem, was established in 1995 by the Khoury family and produces fine beers on a par with the best microbreweries in Europe and the USA.

Taybeh, a Christian Palestinian village, is also famous for its handmade olive oil soap, ceramic peace lamps, and its craft cooperatives.
More information and reservations

Alternative Travel Center Opens in Jerusalem

Tours in English has opened an Alternative Travel Center in partnership with the Gate Cafe just inside Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Center provides information to visitors and enables us to reach a wider audience. Currently the majority of tourists enter the Old City via Jaffa Gate from West Jerusalem. The Alternative Travel Center is the first visitor facility at Damascus Gate and will hopefully become a 'first stop' for visitors looking for something different to do.

Gate Cafe Proprietor - Haithem Alami with a 500-year old olive tree at his home on the Mount of Olives.

Available at the Center are free maps of the Old City, free wireless internet, information about alternative tours, and eventually a full travel library will be available. During the next few months, daily alternative tours of the Old City willl depart from The Travel Center .

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Travel Center is the hospitality of Haitham Alami, Proprietor of the Gate Cafe, a gentleman, and a great conversationalist. More

Are Things getting better?

There has been a spate of media articles recently highlighting the easing of restrictions at some checkpoints in the West Bank and Showcasing in particular the increase of economic activity in Nablus. Both the New York Times and Ha'aretz in Israel have recently published articles on this topic.

However the situation on the ground is hardening as the settlements continue to grow and the segregated roads continue to be built. Fred Schlomka's recent article, 'West Bank Segregated Roads', provides more detail of recent developments. The article was originally published by the Los Angeles Jewish Observer.

New * Services from ToursinEnglish.com

Many of you have signed up for our occasional email newsletters or participated in our tours. However we only have email addresses from most of our patrons. In order to service you better we now request just a little more information from you.

Any information you provide will remain strictly confidential. Please visit our Preferences Center

and tell us about your geographic location and special interests in Israel & Palestine.
Edit your Preferences

Message from the Director

It's been a hot summer. However as i write this I'm cooling off in the Samaritan village on Mount Grizim near Nablus in the Central West Bank - 940 meters (2,900 feet) above sea level with lots of breeze. I just dropped off a group of students on a special trip to Nablus with one of my Palestinian colleagues for meetings with Fatah and NGO officials.

Things have improved slightly in the West Bank lately, at least on the surface. The rules at some checkpoints have loosened up, allowing traffic and commerce to flow a little easier. The Palestinian economy continues to grow and is an indicator of what Prime Minister Netanyahu refers to as 'economic peace'.

However the murmurings on the street are far from peaceful. Underneath the veneer of seeming calm there is a tremendous sense of frustration among Palestinians. There seems to be little support for the present PA government except among some of the business and political elite. A friend in Bethlehem told me recently that there is the beginnings of a new exodus of Christians from the West Bank.

On a brighter note, The Taybeh OktoberFest is gearing up for it's best year ever. I hope to see many of you there.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka

Please do not click reply. Contact here

You have received this newsletter because you have visited the Tours in English web site, gone on one of our tours, or otherwise have indicated an interest in alternative tours. Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in the tours.

Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address.

Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here and provide your email address. Thanks for your interest

2009-05-26T18:56:00.003+03:00


Nativity Trail Introduction to Palestine 4-day tour 5 Palestinian cities Family hosting Meet the people Experience the Occupation Every month . . more info. Scheduled Day-Tours Every Sunday Jaffa/Tel Aviv Every Monday: Greater Jerusalem Jerusalem Old City Every Tuesday: Bethlehem Taybeh Village Jerusalem Seam Line Every Wednesday: Nablus Every Thursday: Hebron & Bethlehem Jericho Every Friday: Central West Bank Masada/Dead Sea Every Saturday: Back Roads to Ramallah ____________________ Special Day-Tours Bedouin Reality Tour Jerusalem Black Panthers Jenin & Nablus Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service. Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries Join our FaceBook Group FORUM BLOG Blog updates via Twitter, email, Messenger, Skype. Subscribe Preview \| Powered by FeedBlitz Widgets Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.	June 2009 New * Nativity Trail Walking Tour The carefully researched route by the Siraj Center and the Alternative Tourism Group is an 11-day journey, and the first leg of the Palestine Trail. Walking the Nativity Trail offers opportunities to meet a diverse range of people: Franciscan priests on Mount Tabor, Muslim clerics at village mosques, Greek Orthodox monks in desert monasteries, hillside farmers, small-town shopkeepers and craftspeople, Bedouin shepherds watering their flocks at ancient cisterns, and many more interesting people. This trip enables you to learn about the situation in the West Bank while enjoying the hospitality of Palestinians and experiencing the full range of the landscape of Palestine. Reservations for individuals and groups are available for Autumn and Winter dates. more Bethlehem (Beit Sahour) Home Stays Whether you are interested in one night, a few days or longer, staying with a Palestinian family is an enlightening experience. Selected English-speaking families from the community offer warm hospitality and an opportunity to learn about their daily lives. You'll have a comfortable room, modern bathroom facilities, and some excellent home cooking. Beit Sahour is a Christian village, now a suburb of Bethlehem and the location of Shepard's Field. You can easily walk into Bethlehem or take a short bus or taxi ride. If you are Christian and want to attend church services, there is a variety of denominations to choose from. more A Tale of Two Cities Jaffa/Tel Aviv Walking Tour Every Sunday This new tour is finally up and running. It is an exploration of the Old city and market of Jaffa while learning about the aftermath of 1948. The guide takes the group along the ‘seam’ areas of Jaffa and Tel Aviv, a city that had its beginnings as a neighborhood of Jaffa. The tour extends into today’s Tel Aviv, and the Neve Zedek neighborhood, Jaffa's first Jewish neighborhood, and the former Palestinian Arab neighborhood of Manshie which was completely destroyed after 1948 in order to ensure that Tel Aviv would develop as an essentially all-Jewish city. . . . .More Coming Soon Tours of Israel for Palestinians Acting on the advice of of a colleague in Ramallah, ToursinEnglish.com will soon announce trips aimed at the summer visitors in the West Bank. Many Palestinians from the USA and other countries visit Palestine every summer to spend time with relatives. These families are able to travel into Israel without permits since they do not hold Palestinian ID cards. They will be offered the opportunity to leave the Occupation for a day, enabling them to visit a settlement, learn about Israeli society and spend a few hours on the beach. Send an email for more information.
Message from the Director One of my highlights during the Spring was hiking in the West Bank. A group of hikers was trekking the Nativity Trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem and I joined them for a day, beginning at the Huwara Checkpoint at Nablus to the hilltop village of Duma just a little North-east of Ramallah. It was about 20 kilometers of fairly easy hiking. The was even a 72 year-old woman in the group who kept up with us fairly well. En-route we passed through several villages and saw some beautiful vistas to the east, all the way to the the mountains of Jordan. The terrain was hilly with only a few steep slopes. We carried light day-packs and plenty of water, and had lunch at a shepherd's hut perched on the side of a hill. The experience prompted me to coordinate organized hikes with my colleagues at the Siraj Center and the Alternative Tourism Group. See you on the trail. All the best, Fred Schlomka Please do not click reply. Contact here
You have received this newsletter because you have visited the Tours in English web site, gone on one of our tours, or otherwise have indicated an interest in alternative tours. Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in the tours. Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address. Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here and provide your email address. Thanks for your interest PO Box 576, Kfar Saba, Israel 44104 International: Tel:+972-54-693-4433 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 In the USA - Tel: 1-800-809-7913 In Israel: Tel: 054-693-4433 Email

2009-04-27T11:00:00.002+03:00

To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address on the web page. View newsletter on the Web
Bedouin Tour Highlights Scheduled Day-Tours Every Monday: Greater Jerusalem Jerusalem Old City Every Tuesday: Bethlehem Taybeh Brewery & Village Every Wednesday: Nablus Walaje Walking Tour Jerusalem Seam Line Every Thursday: Hebron & Bethlehem Jerusalem- Beyond the Wall Every Friday: Central West Bank Every Saturday: Back Roads to Ramallah ____________________ Special Day-Tours Bedouin Reality Tour Jerusalem Black Panthers Jenin & Nablus Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service. Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries Join our FaceBook Group FORUM BLOG Blog updates via Twitter, email, Messenger, Skype. Subscribe Preview \| Powered by FeedBlitz Widgets Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.	April 2009 Newsletter Lonely Planet & National Geographic work with ToursInEnglish.com on Palestine/Israel Movie TIE Director Fred Schlomka was engaged by Lonely Planet TV last month to assist with a National Geographic special on traveling in Palestine and Isreal. Fred spent two days in the Negev with the film crew and arranged for them to spend a day and a night in an unrecognized Bedouin village. The crew also visited the traditional Bedouin animal market in the township of Kseifa that is a destination for one of TIE's tours. Lonely Planet author, Amelia Thomas was the host for the show and will be including a feature on ToursinEnglish.com in the next edition of the Lonely Planet Guide to Israel and the Palestinian Territories due to be published at the end of 2009. more Alternative Accommodations Due to numerous requests for home stays with Palestinians, TIE is now offering a variety of alternative accommodations in the West Bank and Israel. The offerings include reasonably priced homestays with Palestinians and Bedouin families, a permaculture farm near Bethlehem, and the guest house at the Arab/Jewish village of Neveh Shalom/Wahat al-Salam in Central Israel. Each family and guest house are personally visited by TIE staff and the relationship is carefully built and nurtured. More accommodation options will be added every week or two and reservations can be made on-line. more Introduction to Palestine 4-day Package Tour First week of every month other dates on request Hosted by a Palestinian and an Israeli, Tamer Halaseh and Fred Schlomka, this tour is designed to provide an overview of the West Bank, Palestinian culture, and life under Occupation. It is an excellent way to begin your visit, and sets the stage for further independent travel. Tamer and Fred will give you an intense and rich experience packed into four days. You'll see five Palestinian cities, meet dozens of Palestinians, and be provided with a huge amount of information about Palestinian history, culture and the Occupation. Tour Highlights - Stay with a Palestinian family - East Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Taybeh - Nablus - Night out in Ramallah - Seminar with Palestinian/Israeli NGO - Balata Refugee Camp - Settlements . . . . .More information NEW - Jerusalem 'Seam Line' Walking Tour Rotem Mor, host of our popular Jerusalem Black Panther's Tour has designed a unique Jerusalem experience. This tour illustrates the rich and fragile nature of Jerusalem. You will explore the neighborhoods along the East-West dividing highway of Jerusalem, the former border between Israel and Jordanian occupied East Jerusalem between 1948 and 1967. more
Message from the Director After a very slow period in the aftermath of the Gaza invasion, things are picking up again as we approach the Easter and Passover holidays. The new home stays and guest house section of the website is seeing a lot of activity and I am hoping to steer many visitors to more meaningful accommodations over the coming season. Palestinians need the patronage so please tell all your friends who are coming here this summer to be sure and stay at Palestinian homes, guest houses and hotels. I'm about to go on an all-day hike in the central West Bank with a group from the UK and a Palestinian guide. I'll post a full report on the blog Over the next month hikes will be offered on the website in conjunction with the Siraj Center and the Alternative tourism Group in Beit Sahour. Stay tuned for more info over the next few weeks. All the best, Fred Schlomka Please do not click reply. Contact here
You have received this newsletter because you have visited the Tours in English web site, gone on one of our tours, or otherwise have indicated an interest in alternative tours. Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in the tours. Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address. Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here and provide your email address. Thanks for your interest PO Box 576, Kfar Saba, Israel 44104 International: Tel:+972-54-693-4433 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 In the USA - Tel: 1-800-809-7913 In Israel: Tel: 054-693-4433 Email

2009-01-20T14:21:00.007+02:00


Bethlehem Christmas Tour 2008 Scheduled Day-Tours Every Monday: Greater Jerusalem Jerusalem Old City Every Tuesday: Bethlehem Taybeh Brewery & Village Every Wednesday: Nablus Walaje Walking Tour Every Thursday: Hebron & Bethlehem Jerusalem- Beyond the Wall Every Friday: Central West Bank Every Saturday: Back Roads to Ramallah ____________________ Other Day-Tours Bedouin Reality Tour Jerusalem Black Panthers Jenin & Nablus Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service. Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries Join our FaceBook Group FORUM BLOG Blog updates via Twitter, email, Messenger, Skype. Subscribe Preview \| Powered by FeedBlitz Widgets Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.	February 2009 Newsletter ••••• Sebastia is Waiting for Tourists Back in the 1999s the tour buses clogged the parking lot of Sebastia in the Northern West Bank. Not any more. This ancient Roman city, and the adjacent modern Palestinian village are victims of Israel's encapsulation of Palestinian areas though hundreds of checkpoints, barriers, and restricted roads. The tourists used to come mainly from Israeli tour companies who now steer visitors away from the West Bank, including important historical sites such as Sebastia. The magnificent ruins are a legacy from the time of Herod when the city was a Roman metropolis, full of temples, a large hippodrome, theatre and stadium. The remains of these can still be seen in remarkably preserved condition. more Bedouin/Negev Tour This pilot tour aimed at Israelis and others who are interested in the serious plight of the Negev Bedouin who continue to have their land confiscated by the Israeli government. Within the next two months the tour will be offered on a weekly basis. During the drive to the Negev, the guide will explain the general situation of the Negev Bedouin, and the conditions of siege that they are experiencing. This tour does NOT enter the West Bank but travels from the Tel Aviv area south to the Negev and visits the unrecognized village of Alsera where we pick up our Bedouin host. You'll then continue to the township of Kseifa for the weekly Bedouin animal market, and the reason for our early morning start. This unique experience is rarely seen by outsiders. Traders and local Bedouin haggle over the price of camels and other livestock in a lively atmosphere. In addition to visiting the Kseifa market you'll also tour the town and learn about the issues surrounding these 'official' townships established by the Israeli government to encourage the Bedouin to leave their traditional lands. Then the group will return to Alsera for a traditional Bedouin lunch and conversation with our host. After lunch you'll tour the village and the surrounding area. more New Day-Tour - Jerusalem - Beyond the WALL Every Thursday - 5 hours Experience the hospitality of the Halaseh Family in East Sawahreh, and tour the area of Abu Dis, Bethany, and Azariyah. These communities are caught on the 'wrong' side of Israel's Separation Barrier and are now cut off from Jerusalem. There will be an opportunity to see the unfinished Palestinian Parliament building, Lazarus Tomb, the church at Bethany, and the Mount of Olives terminal - the only legal way for local Palestinians with permits to enter Jerusalem. Lunch will be served at the home of your guide, Tamer Halaseh. There is also an option to spend the night at the Halaseh home. More information
Message from the Director The humanitarian situation is Gaza continues to deteriorate after the pounding it received from the Israeli military. Tourism to the strip is the last thing on the minds of most people visiting the Middle East. However it is possible to visit and witness the destruction from the Egyptian side of the border, The Israeli border crossings are closed except by special permit. Those of you who have organizational contacts in Gaza can apply for a permit, and ToursInEnglish.com is ready to help. We continue to offer new tours even as the Occupation deepens and the expansion of settlements, the Separation Barrier, and segregated roads continues unabated. It's more important than ever for you to visit the West Bank and see for yourself the expansion of the state of Israel. All the best, Fred Schlomka Please do not click reply. Contact here
You have received this newsletter because you have visited the Tours in English web site, gone on one of our tours, or otherwise have indicated an interest in alternative tours. Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in the tours. Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address. Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here and provide your email address. Thanks for your interest PO Box 576, Kfar Saba, Israel 44104 International: Tel:+972-54-693-4433 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 In the USA - Tel: 1-800-809-7913 In Israel: Tel: 054-693-4433 Email

2008-01-10T16:20:00.002+02:00


OktoberFest 2008 Scheduled Day-Tours Every Monday: Greater Jerusalem Every Tuesday: Bethlehem Taybeh Brewery Every Wednesday: Nablus Walaje Walking Tour Every Thursday: Hebron & Bethlehem Ramallah Walking Tour Every Friday: Central West Bank Every Saturday: Back Roads to Ramallah ____________________ Other Day-Tours Bedouin Reality Tour Jerusalem Black Panthers Jenin & Nablus Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service. Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries Join our FaceBook Group FORUM BLOG Blog updates via Twitter, email, Messenger, Skype. Subscribe Preview \| Powered by FeedBlitz Widgets Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts.	October 2008 Taybeh OktoberFest a Great Success The Taybeh OktoberFest was a great success with thousands of people attending the festivities. The guests included officials from the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations, and diplomats from various embassies. Palestinians came from all over the West Bank and Israel, and a large contingent of Israelis came on the ToursInEnglish.com bus from Tel Aviv. This was truly a great showcase of Palestinian goodwill, hospitality, arts & crafts and coexistence at its best. The municipal hall was packed for the opening ceremonies, with standing room only and many people left outside. No-one minded because the beer was flowing and good humor prevailed. more New Tour - Jerusalem Old City The tour will emphasis the centrality of the Old City of Jerusalem to the three monotheistic religions and visit some of the visible icons of the Israeli Occupation. This includes existing and future Jewish settlements in the Muristan (Christian Quarter) and Muslim Quarter, with discussion of their background and implications. Homes in the Old City are purchased by the settlement organization, Ateret Cohanim, and populated by young, often radical national religious seminary students . . . More information New Tour - Jenin & Nablus Due the trip to Jenin from Jerusalem passes Nablus, it was decided to include a few hours in Nablus en-route. This allows participants to gain a good overview of the situation in both cities. The tour begins with a briefing and includes visits to the Balata Refugee Camp in Nablus and the Refugee Camp in Jenin. The tour also includes a visit to the Old City of Nablus, the archeological site of Sebastia, and the Freedom Theatre in Jenin. More information Tour Guide Profile Yahav Zohar Yahav Zohar was born in Jerusalem and has lived there all his life. He has been a journalist and a translator and is currently a professional tour guide, guiding throughout Israel and in Jordan. Yahav also volunteers with Rabbis for Human Rights (though not a rabbi) is a member of Combatants For Peace (though never a combatant) and tries to spend at least one day a week working towards a just peace and an end to the Israeli Occupation. more profiles North America Speaking Tour November 28th - December 8th, 2008 George Rishmawi Fred Schlomka These two social entrepreneurs, a Palestinian and an Israeli, are veteran political activists and work in the alternative tourism sector. George and Fred will take you on an exploration of what it means to be a progressive entrepreneur in Israel and Palestine, and the value conflicts, political contradictions, and moral dilemmas that surface on a regular basis. Their presentation will cover tourism in Palestine, the principals of doing business across the Green Line, issues of normalization, boycott, and healthy economic development. Dates are still available. if your organization would like to sponsor a speaking engagement contact the Tour Coordinator : American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (AAPER). More information \| Download a flyer. For bookings contact: speakers@aaper.org Tel: (202) 683-8438
Message from the Director - announcing 2009 package tours Planning is now underway for several package tours for 2009 for the Spring, Summer and Autumn. These will be all-inclusive 8-10 day trips for small groups of 12-15 people. Individuals will be able to reserve places on these tours and the groups will come together in israel/Palestine. The package tours will include many of the day-tours described on the website, plus much more. There will be briefings by activists and organizations, and meetings with Palestinian officials, villagers, settlers, 'ordinary' Israelis', and ongoing round table discussions to try and make sense of the complexity of Israel's Occupation. The tours will also include flight arrangements, staying in unique Palestinian hotels and family homes, and will have my personal attention. Those of you interested in joining one of these trips please contact me soon. Pass this information on to friends and colleagues. The dates of the trips, and full itineraries will be available in November. All the best, Fred Schlomka Please do not click reply. Contact here
You have received this newsletter because you have visited the Tours in English web site, gone on one of our tours, or otherwise have indicated an interest in alternative tours. Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in the tours. Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address. Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here and provide your email address. Thanks for your interest PO Box 576, Kfar Saba, Israel 44104 International: Tel:+972-54-693-4433 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 In the USA - Tel: 1-800-809-7913 In Israel: Tel: 054-693-4433 Email

2008-01-09T16:23:00.002+02:00


Join our FaceBook Group ____________________ Ask you tour questions on the forum. Visit our BLOG ____________________ Taybeh OctoberFest Don't miss this great celebration of Palestinian music, arts, and of course the best beer in the Middle East. More information ____________________ Widgets Place a widget on your web site or blog and earn tour discounts. ____________________ Scheduled Tours Every Monday: Greater Jerusalem Every Tuesday: Bethlehem Taybeh Brewery Every Wednesday: Nablus Walaje Walking Tour Every Thursday: Hebron & Bethlehem Ramallah Walking Tour Every Friday: Central West Bank Every Saturday: Back Roads to Ramallah ____________________ Other Tours Bedouin Reality Tour Jerusalem Black Panthers Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service. Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries	September 2008 Israel Tourist Industry Monopolizes West Bank Site A recent article in one of Israel's leading newspapers, Ha'aretz, was written like a tourist industry press release promoting the Israeli Government's opening of the Jordan River site where Christians believe that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. However the site remains under Israel's Military Occupation and any economic benefit from pilgrim visits should enhance the Palestinian economy rather than Israel. more North America Speaking Tour November 28th - December 8th, 2008 George Rishmawi Fred Schlomka These two social entrepreneurs, a Palestinian and an Israeli, are veteran political activists and work in the alternative tourism sector. They will present an overview of their cooperation amid the ongoing Israeli occupation. George and Fred will take you on an exploration of what it means to be a progressive entrepreneur in Israel and Palestine, and the value conflicts, political contradictions, and moral dilemmas that surface on a regular basis. Their presentation will cover tourism in Palestine, the principals of doing business across the Green Line, issues of normalization, boycott, and healthy economic development. Dates are still available. if your organization would like to sponsor a speaking engagement contact the Tour Coordinator : American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (AAPER). More information \| Download a flyer. For bookings contact: speakers@aaper.org Tel: (202) 683-8438 New Ramallah Tour The new Ramallah Walking Tour and cultural evening enables visitors to soak up some of the exciting downtown attractions of Ramallah. Despite the ongoing Occupation of Palestinian lands, Ramallah is a thriving and exciting place. The tour will pass through the fortress-like Kalandia Checkpoint dividing Jerusalem from Ramallah, visit some of the famous landmarks, meet Palestinian professionals and visit with a local NGO. Led by veteran tour leader Tamer Halaseh, visitors learn about life under Occupation while meeting Palestinians who have found a way to cope with the pressures through celebrating their city and building meaningful lifestyles. Tamer is full of surprises and often invites friends to join the group at various points along the way. Dinner is an important part of the day and gives everyone a chance to relax in a friendly atmosphere while enjoying a traditional meal. More information Tour Guide Profile Yafit Gamila Biso Gamila immigrated to Israel from Syria in 1985. She is active in many joint Israeli-Palestinian peace and human rights groups, including Ta'ayush, Windows, and her own organization the Olive Tree. Her activities include being a translator and contact person for Palestinian children and families getting treatment in Israeli hospitals, organizing humanitarian aid for Palestinian children in the West Bank, and assisting Palestinians with the olive harvest. She is known interchangeably by her two first names, with mean "beautiful" in Hebrew and Arabic, respectively. Gamila speaks English, Arabic and Hebrew fluently. more profiles
Message from the Director I wanted to say a big thank you to all our visitors who took tours this summer. Over 150 people a month participated in the public and private tours between May and August. We are now gearing up for a busy autumn season, and organizing package tours for next year. Alternative Tourism is quickly becoming mainstream in Israel and Palestine due to the huge surge in visitors during 2008. However many tours in this genre are also conducted by settler organizations whose message is the consolidation of Israel's grip on the entire country. The recent yNet article, Crossing the Line, illustrated this trend with a glowing endorsement of 'Greater Israel' tours. One of the reasons I founded ToursInEnglish.com last year was because I had noted this trend and wanted to counter it. Please spread the word about the tours, forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues, and help by placing our new widgets on your blog or web site. Thank you. All the best, Fred Schlomka Please do not click reply. Contact here
You have received this newsletter because you have visited the Tours in English web site, gone on one of our tours, or otherwise have indicated an interest in alternative tours. Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in the tours. Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe simply click this link and enter your email address. Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, please click here and provide your email address. Thanks for your interest PO Box 576, Kfar Saba, Israel 44104 International: Tel:+972-54-693-4433 * Fax:+972-9-777-0020 In the USA - Tel: 1-800-809-7913 In Israel: Tel: 054-693-4433 Email

2008-01-08T12:04:00.003+02:00

August 2008

LATEST NEWS - FaceBook Group - Blog

Israel's 'Two Roads' Solution

Fred Schlomka

Through traveling the roads of the West Bank almost daily, Fred Schlomka documents the approaching transportation crisis in the Greater Jerusalem area.

As the eyes of the world were on the Liberty Ships approaching Gaza, a massive segregated road project in the Greater Jerusalem area has been quietly approaching completion. Israel is about to unveil the realization of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's dream of Palestinian 'transportational contiguity', in lieu of contiguous territory. Route 1, currently shared with Palestinians, connects Jerusalem to the eastern settlement of Ma'ale Adumim (pop. 35,000). This four-lane highway leads to the Dead Sea and also whisks settlers to Jerusalem in twenty minutes through the 'E1' development area.
Since Sharon's ultimate goal was to remove Palestinian traffic from settler roads, he came up with the ingenious plan to build a separate road network for exclusive Palestinian use, with no connection to the settler roads, only bridges and underpasses. . . . . . more

Unfortunately there is no readily available hard data regarding the number of tourists visiting the Palestinian Authority's areas (Area 'A' & 'B') of the West Bank. Israel does not keep such statistics and there is no data in English available on the web site of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics or Tourism Ministry. The latest report in Arabic is for 2005. Such data is hard to compile . . . . . more

. . . . . Eldad Brin

Eldad has an M.A. in geography and urban and regional studies from Hebrew University and is a licensed tour guide. He was born and raised in Jerusalem and specializes in guiding the Greater Jerusalem Tour and walking tours of the Old City. His passion is the post-1967 'geopolitics' of the area and has written extensively on the subject. Most notably his 2006 paper, 'Politically Oriented Tourism in Jerusalem' published by Sage in the academic journal, Tourist Studies. Eldad's tours of Jerusalem provide a comprehensive overview of the contradictions inherent between the slogan, 'an Undivided Jerusalem', and the 8-meter high wall that slices through Palestinian neighborhoods and the segregated roads around the perimeter of the city. Eldad has also given presentations on the situation is Jerusalem. . . . . More Guides profiles

Due to many requests, the town of Kalkilia (Qalqiliya) is soon to be offered as a weekly day-tour. Kalkiliya is the closest part of the West Bank to the Mediterranean, and completely surrounded by the Separation Barrier, with only one road open to the east, blocked by an Israeli military checkpoint.

The Jenin Tour is still only available as a private tour while the logistics are being worked out.

Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service. Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Scheduled Tours

Tour Name	Departing from	Schedule
Greater Jerusalem	Jerusalem	Every Monday	Itinerary & Reservations
Taybeh Brewery	Jerusalem	Every Tuesday	Itinerary & Reservations
Bethlehem	Jerusalem	Every Tuesday	Itinerary & Reservations
Nablus	Jerusalem	Every Wednesday	Itinerary & Reservations
Back Roads to Ramallah	Jerusalem	Every Saturday	Itinerary & Reservations
Hebron & Bethlehem	Jerusalem	Every Thursday	Itinerary & Reservations
Central West Bank	Tel Aviv, Hertzliya & Ra'anana	Every Friday	Itinerary & Reservations
Israel Black Panthers	Jerusalem	Last Friday of the month	Itinerary & reservations
Tours conducted by independent tour guides and in cooperation with, Daila, the Alternative Tourism Group, Siraj Center and the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality. Palestinian, Bedouin, and israeli tour guides conduct the tours.

Many people coming in to the Ben Gurion airport request to NOT have their passport stamped with an Israeli entry visa. Usually the visitor is traveling on to an Arab country where the law does not permit entry for people who have first been to Israel. So, on request, the Israeli authorities stamp a piece of paper which is kept inside the passport and removed on departure from the country, enabling the traveler to arrive in the Arab country without 'evidence' that they have been in Israel.

However recently many people have not been given the stamped paper at the airport or one of the land crossings to Israel which is causing problems at West Bank checkpoints and police inspections. One of our tour groups to Hebron was recently stopped by the police and everyone had to produce a passport. One of the participants had no stamp and was detained at the local police station for 45 minutes. It was all sorted out once the police contacted the Ministry of Interior and determined that the person was in the country legally. However the situation could have been avoided.

Please remember to ASK the immigration police to give you a stamped paper for your visa that you can keep in your passport. DO NOT give the paper away at the inspection point after the immigration station. Sometimes the inspectors who double check the passport keep the piece of paper. Don't let them and this avoid problems later.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka

Please do not click reply. Contact here

Unsubscribe: Send an email to STServ@schlomka.com and type 'unsubscribe toursinenglish' in the message window. The subject can be left blank.

Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you, and you wish to receive the monthly newsletters, send an email to STServ@schlomka.com and type 'subscribe toursinenglish' in the message window. The subject can be left blank.

2008-01-07T13:21:00.001+02:00

To unsubscribe send an email to STServ@schlomka.com and type 'unsubscribe toursinenglish' in the message window.

July 2008

LATEST NEWS!

Circuit "politique" en Cisjordanie
Political Tours of the West Bank
Benjamin Barthe

Le Monde (France) - 11th July 2008
(translated to English. . . . . Original article (French)

A labyrinth of metallic turnstiles, electronic detectors and barbed wire fencing under a roof of sheet metal whitened by the sun of Palestine: it is checkpoint of Huwara, gateway to Nablus, the capital of the northern West Bank, and it is there that Thomas and Charlotte, two Parisian thirty year-olds, chose to spend part of their honeymoon.
Arriving in Israel initially to visit a friend in Tel Aviv, the young bridegrooms quickly felt the need to see " the opposite side " of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After a few days in Jerusalem, including a visit of Yad Vashem, the painful memorial of the Holocaust, they reserved two places on an 'alternative tour' by an agency which refuses to reduce Palestine to a photo opportunity in front of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, or on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. . . . . More (The author took a tour to Nablus with ToursInEnglish.com two weeks ago)

. . . . . Taybeh Brewery - The only Palestinian Brewing Company

The Taybeh Brewery was established by two brothers in 1995 in the Christian village of Taybeh about 15 kilometers north-east of Jerusalem.

4 hours - Every Tuesday - The tour will begin with a short tour of settlements and teh Separation Barrier east of Jerusalem and then visit the Taybeh Brewery. There will be a short briefing at the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem, then the bus will travel up the 'seam line' road past French Hill, Israel's first settlement to be built after the 1967 war. Traveling on the settler road NE of Jerusalem, the group will see the Palestinian neighborhoods of Shuafat and Beit Hanina, and the the settlement of Pizgat Ze'ev. The route exits Israel into Area 'C' at the Pizgat Ze'ev Checkpoint and takes the Ramallah by-pass road to Taybeh seeing sections of the Separation Barrier and Palestinian villages. During the trip your guide will discuss the political geography of the terrain and the ramifications for the proposed future Palestinian State.. . . . . . . . . . . more information

. . . . . Samer Kokaly

Samer is the Operations Manager for the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) in Bethlehem and conducts a variety of tours in Palestine. Established in 1995, ATG operates according to the tenets of justice tourism, that is, tourism that holds as its central goals the creation of economic opportunities for the local community, positive cultural exchange between guest and host through one-on-one interaction, the protection of the environment, and political/historical education. Samer Kokaly works tirelessly to promote a positive image of Palestine and its people and to contribute to establishment of a just peace in the area. He is a graduate of the Thessaloniki University in Greece, and has previously worked as an air steward and with a travel agency. The Kokaly family live in Beit Sahour near Bethlehem with an extended family spread around the world in Spain, Chile, Greece and the USA.. . . . More Guides profiles

The Jenin Tour is in development with cooperation from the Freedom Theatre located in the Jenin Refugee Camp. A pilot tour was conducted last week with a private client and a meeting was held by a principal of ToursInEnglish.com with Juliano Mer Khamis, General Director of the Theatre, and a Fatah representative from the camp. The itinerary of the tour is being refined and will include transit from Jerusalem, a brief visit in Nablus, a stop at the Roman site of Sebastia between Nablus and Jenin, a visit to the ancient Burqin church near Jenin, then an extended visit to the Freedom Theatre and the Jenin Refugee Camp. This is a lot to pack into one day but will give our guests a good overview of the situation on the ground between Jerusalem and Jenin in addition to visiting important historical and Occupation-related sites.
The Jenin tour will operate once/week beginning in August.
Private tours for any of the published itineraries, or a custom tour, can be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, hotel bookings, and personal service. Custom itineraries can include visits with Palestinian NGOs, villagers, settlers, and activists. Private tour inquiries

Scheduled Tours

Tour Name	Departing from	Schedule
Greater Jerusalem	Jerusalem	Every Monday	Itinerary & Reservations
Taybeh Brewery	Jerusalem	Every Tuesday	Itinerary & Reservations
Bethlehem	Jerusalem	Every Tuesday	Itinerary & Reservations
Nablus	Jerusalem	Every Wednesday	Itinerary & Reservations
Back Roads to Ramallah	Jerusalem	Every Saturday	Itinerary & Reservations
Hebron & Bethlehem	Jerusalem	Every Thursday	Itinerary & Reservations
Central West Bank	Tel Aviv, Hertzliya & Ra'anana	Every Friday	Itinerary & Reservations
Israel Black Panthers	Jerusalem	Last Friday of the month	Itinerary & reservations
Tours conducted by independent tour guides and in cooperation with ICAHD, Daila, the Alternative Tourism Group, Holy Land Trust, Siraj Center and Dikkum. Palestinian and israeli tour guides conduct the tours.

I am happy to announce the opening of the Tours In English Blog. The blog is my notepad, documenting thoughts about current tours and destinations and announcing plans for the future as they unfold. There are also postings on interesting aspects of tour destinations and tourism in general in Palestine and Israel. Currently I am posting there every few days and am trying to encourage my tour guides and other experts to upload postings. many of you on this list are experts on travel and destinations in this area. Some of you travel here frequently. If you are interested in becoming an author on the blog, please contact me and make a request.

All the best,

Fred Schlomka

Please do not click reply. Contact here

Unsubscribe: Send an email to STServ@schlomka.com and type 'unsubscribe toursinenglish' in the message window. The subject can be left blank.

2008-01-06T11:07:00.000+02:00

To unsubscribe send an email to STServ@schlomka.com and type 'unsubscribe toursinenglish' in the message window.

June 2008

LATEST NEWS!

Palestinian Hotels

Jerusalem Claridge Hotel

Abu Ramzi and his son Ramzi are the proprietors of the family owned Jerusalem Claridge Hotel. Their easy informal style quickly helps guests become comfortable and at-home, enjoying traditional Arab hospitality and cuisine.
The hotel is nestled in a quiet residential street in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, about halfway between the center of Jerusalem and Ramallah, with easy access by taxi or bus to both cities. This makes the hotel an ideal base for exploring the centers of Israeli and Palestinian societies, and a good starting point for tours of the West Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . More information

. . . . . Bedouin Reality Tour - West Bank and Negev Desert

9 hours - Private tours only - This tour is serious excursion delving deep into the realities of Bedouin life today, and dispelling the romantic myths surrounding this formerly nomadic people. The links and connections between the Negev Bedouin and the West Bank Bedouin will be made clear. They are the same people, with the same struggle for dignity and liberty.
The tour travels south from Jerusalem through the West Bank, passing Bethlehem and Hebron. During the bus trip the Palestinian guide describes the condition of the Bedouin in the southern West Bank, the major issues they are facing, and the impact of the Israeli occupation on their lives. The tour will stop at a village in the South Hebron Hills, have tea with some villagers, and discuss their situation with the guide translating. In the Negev, the group will meet a Bedouin guide who will explain the general situation of the Negev Bedouin, and the conditions of siege that they are experiencing. The group will visit an 'unrecognized village' and have lunch and discussion with villagers. Then on to one of the ‘official’ Bedouin reservation townships to see the conditions there and have a discussion with residents. . . . . . . . . . . . more information

. . . . . Tamer Halaseh

Tamer lives in the Palestinian village of Sawahra on the edge of Jerusalem, one of the communities that has been cut off from the city by the Separation barrier. A graduate of Al Quds University in Jerusalem, he also has two years of study towards a law degree. Tamer has worked in the tourism and hospitality industry for many years in a variety of capacities including, project manager, tour guide, and public relations. He has lectured on the Israel/Palestine situation and is a founding member of 'Jerusalem Peacemakers', an NGO that fosters better relationships between Palestinians and Israelis. Tamer is the International Coordinator for a Palestinian Organization, Bridges for Cultural Exchange, and conducts tours for ToursInEnglish.com. . . . More Guides profiles

New Tour Developments

The company is now developing tours for 2009 that will include a complete package of touring, briefings, accommodations, and meals. The packages are being designed to maximise the positive impact on the Palestinian economy through the use of hotels and other services based in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, and Nablus. The tours will be limited to 15-20 people who will be able to make individual reservations. If you are planning a trip next year for yourself or a group, Contact the Director for more details.
Private tours can always be scheduled at any time with airport pick-up, flexible itineraries, and personal service. Private tour inquiries

Scheduled Tours

Tour Name	Departing from	Schedule
Greater Jerusalem	Jerusalem	Every Monday	Itinerary & Reservations
Bethlehem	Jerusalem	Every Tuesday	Itinerary & Reservations
Nablus	Jerusalem	Every Wednesday	Itinerary & reservations
Back Roads to Ramallah	Jerusalem	Every Saturday	Itinerary & reservations
Hebron & Bethlehem	Jerusalem	Every Thursday	Itinerary & reservations
Central West Bank	Tel Aviv, Hertzliya & Ra'anana	Every Friday	Itinerary & reservations
Israel Black Panthers	Jerusalem	Last Friday of the month	Itinerary & reservations
All scheduled tours conducted in cooperation with ICAHD, Daila, the Alternative Tourism Group, Holy Land Trust, Siraj Center and Dikkum. Palestinian and israeli tour guides conduct the tours.

Message from the Director

Palestine and Israel is experiencing an upsurge of visitors during 2008, although still not reaching the levels of the late 1990s. This develpment is of vital importance to our economy in the Holy Land. I urge all of you to encourage your friends and family to come and experience the full variety of this great land. Take advantage of fine Palestinian hospitality and spend time in the villages and cities of the West Bank. Spend your money there rather than in Israel, and feel good that you not only receive better value, but are also contributing to an economy that needs your help.
The vast majority of Israeli tour companies steer their clients towards exclusively Israeli tours, hotels, and historical sites, and discourage them from visiting Palestinian areas. Tours In English explicitly supports the Palestinian economy by bringing groups to West Bank areas, hiring Palestinian tour guides, and providing critical analysis of the Occupation while enabling our clients to enjoy the beauty and culture of Palestine. As a social enterprize, the company has developed a succesful blend of business and progressive action. Thank you for your support.

All the best,
Fred Schlomka
Please do not click reply. Contact here

Unsubscribe: Send an email to STServ@schlomka.com and type 'unsubscribe toursinenglish' in the message window. The subject can be left blank.

Green Olive Tours Newsletters

West Bank Maps

Jerusalem Old City Map

Multi-Day Tours

Scheduled Day-Tours

Special Day-Tours

Like our FaceBook Page

Affiliate Program

Job opportunity atGreen Olive Tours

Spring 2011

What's New on the Green Olive Blog?

New Settler Tour

New Hebron Tour

Partner Profile - Old City Net

West Bank Maps

Jerusalem Old City Map

Multi-Day Tours

Scheduled Day-Tours

Special Day-Tours

Join our FaceBook Group

Widgets

TAYBEH OKTOBERFEST 20102nd & 3rd October

OctoberFest Buses Depart Dailyfrom Jerusalem & Tel Aviv Online Reservations

PROGRAM

Preferences

West Bank Maps

Jerusalem Old City Map

Multi-Day Tours

Scheduled Day-Tours

Special Day-Tours

Join our FaceBook Group

Widgets

Summer 2010

What's New on the Green Olive Blog?

Occupation Roundup

Sponsorship & Advertising withGreen Olive Tours

Researcher seeks travelers/tourists for interviews

Preferences

West Bank Maps

Jerusalem Old City Map

Multi-Day Tours

Scheduled Day-Tours

Special Day-Tours

Join our FaceBook Group

Widgets

April 2010

2010 Beit Ummar Summer Camp19th July - 1st August

Other Multi-day Tours for 2010

Preferences

Bethlehem Christmas 2009

West Bank Maps

Jerusalem Old City Map

Multi-Day Tours

Scheduled Day-Tours

Special Day-Tours

Join our FaceBook Group

Widgets

February 2010

NEW - Daily Old City Tours

Multi-day Tours for 2010

The Ghettos of Jerusalem

Speaking Tour

Preferences

Taybeh OktoberFest 2009

West Bank Maps

Jerusalem Old City Map

Introduction to Palestine4-day tour

Scheduled Day-Tours

Special Day-Tours

Join our FaceBook Group

Widgets

November 2009

Christmas in Bethlehem

Road Trip & Speaking Tour - January 2010

Tipping in Israel & Palestine

Justice Tourism Survey

West Bank Maps

Jerusalem Old City Map

Introduction to Palestine

Scheduled Day-Tours

Job opportunity at
Green Olive Tours

TAYBEH OKTOBERFEST 2010
2nd & 3rd October

OctoberFest Buses Depart Daily
from Jerusalem & Tel Aviv

Online Reservations

Sponsorship & Advertising with
Green Olive Tours

2010 Beit Ummar Summer Camp
19th July - 1st August

Introduction to Palestine

4-day tour

September 2009

Taybeh OktoberFest

June 2009

New * Nativity Trail Walking Tour

A Tale of Two Cities
Jaffa/Tel Aviv Walking Tour

Coming Soon

Tours of Israel for Palestinians

April 2009 Newsletter

Lonely Planet & National Geographic work with ToursInEnglish.com on Palestine/Israel Movie

Introduction to Palestine

4-day Package Tour

Bethlehem

Christmas Tour 2008

February 2009 Newsletter

•••••

Sebastia is Waiting for Tourists