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Itinerary

Fact-Finding Mission to Israel - May 18 - May 29, 2020

The program is filled with visits and events that are not published or mentioned in the itinerary and will be provided to vetted participants only.

Though some of the sites on the itinerary were included in previous missions, up to date current situations will be presented and analyzed.

If you make your own flight arrangements, please make sure your flight arrives no later than early afternoon on May 19 and your flight out of Israel should be on Tuesday May 29.

PROGRAM & ITINERARY


Monday, May 18, 2020

Depart on an overnight flight to Israel. For those who wish to come earlier, please inquire about our special hotel rates in Jerusalem.


Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. Transfer to the hotel in Tel Aviv. Check in to your hotel. Dinner will be served 7:00 PM in the main dining room of the hotel.

Overnight:Jerusalem
Meals: Dinner


Wednesday, May 20, 2020

After breakfast, we will have our orientation meeting wth a layout of the tour with our tour host, Ron Wexler, Team Israel, as well as our guides and staff.


We will start our touring program today on the Mount of Olives, We will view the Temple Mount from the top of the mountain. What a superb panoramic view of The Temple Mount, Al Aqsa, the Dome of the Rock and the entire walled city. We will visit parts of of the southern wall excavations. This southern side of the temple was the main entrance for the common folk, whereas the priests and Levites had their own entrance from the higher western side. Continue through the Old City where we will trace some of the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa before walking to the reconstructed Jewish Quarter. We will walk through the Cardo, the original Roman street and see the remains of the massive wall built by King Hezekiah. We will exit the city and make our way to the Israeli Parliament-Knesset for a special tour and meeting with Knesset members. Return to our hotel for dinner (Time permitting, we will also visit the Israel Museum, where we will view the famous Jerusalem model of the Second Temple era (King Herod era) and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept).

Evening program at hotel.

Evening: Diner in hotel
Overnight: Jerusalem, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our touring program today on the Temple Mount, the site of al Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock with an on site comprehensive presentation!

We will continue to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and after lunch an amazing presentation by the Clarion Organization is scheduled.



This is the evening the Jerusalem Day celebrations begin and we will be there!!

Evening: Diner in hotel
Overnight: Jerusalem, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Friday, May 22, 2020

Breakfast at our hotel. Our entire program today will be a one of a kind on location visit to the security wall. We will visit a number of sections along the wall and gain better clarity as to why border walls work and how effective they are at stopping illegal activity. This wall reduced the risk of penetration almost 100%.

The presentation here will be given by the man who designed and was in charge of the building of this security wall. In late afternoon the highlight will be participation in the Jerusalem Day Parade, celebrating the 53rd year of unification, 1967 - 2019 (Six Day War with men and women who took part in liberating Jerusalem). This is a major event for the whole country, but especially in Jerusalem - not to be missed! Our activities will be in conjunction with the Jerusalem Day celebrations, including the amazing Jerusalem Day Parade.

This evening we are all invited to a Kabalat Shabbat, the receiving of the Sabbath service. This is a unique and heartfelt service at the Western Wall with many local Jewish worshipers.

Evening: Shabbat Diner in hotel.
Overnight:Jerusalem, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight:Jerusalem, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Saturday, May 23, 2020

After an early breakfast we will make our way the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. Driving along the coastline we make our way to Masada.


This was the last pocket of insurrection in the Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire where 960 men, women and children defied the might of Rome and fought for three years after the destruction of Jerusalem. We will visit King Herod's Palace, the Synagogue, and a very sophisticated water and irrigation system that is 2000 years old. On top of the rock we will hear a presentation by Ron Wexler - Never Again


Later in the day a special treat awaits us as we go bathing in the "heavy water" of the Dead Sea. After a fun time at the Dead Sea we will return to our hotel in Jerusalem.


Overnight: Jerusalem, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Today we begin our Galilee Excursion traveling through the Sharon Valley. Our first visit will be we begin the community of Alfei Menashe in Judea (West Bank). Our focus here is the security and defense of this stronghold in the so-called West Bank, overlooking and in control of the heart of Israel. Here we view and listen to a security briefing on the absurdity of the “Two-State,” solution and the need for a security barrier.

Following our stop in Alfei Menashe we we continue north along the coastal road to the beautiful Carmel Mountains overlooking the the Jesrael Valley known as the Valley of Armageddon. Via biblical Megido we will end the day on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.


Evening program and diner at hotel.

Overnight: Tiberias, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Monday, May 25, 2020

Breakfast at our hotel. Drive to Rosh Hanikra to visit the spectacular limestone grottos at the Mediterranean.

This interesting place is situated at the most northern seashore border with Lebanon, here we will view the border and see the UN observers and the IDF checkpoint. This is the western part of the northern border between Western Galilee, Israel and Southern Lebanon, the line of defense where Israel faces Hezbollah.

We will then continue to to Acre and begin our tour with a visit to the underground crusaders city and halls. We will walk through the narrow passages and alleyways and emerge at the old port of Acre (Akko).

After lunch we will then drive to the northern border of Israel. Along this border are spots that triggered both the first and second Lebanese wars. We will end this drive at the most northern outpost in Israel overlooking Lebanon's Hezbolah region. Here we will get a dynamic and animated presentation on this fragile border region and the security elements applied. Here we will also meet with soldiers and upon security clearance (on the ground) we visit the local IDF installation.




Evening: Dinner followed by an informal meeting with our hosts.
Overnight: Tiberias, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Breakfast at our hotel. This morning we will visit some of the biblical sites around the Sea of Galilee. We will then drive to the northern border of Israel in the town of Metula to view the local border security fence. Interesting part of this most guarded fence is that a number of years ago it was called "The Good Fence". It is here that Christian Lebanese and members of the South Lebanon Christian Militia had free access to Israel during Lebanon civil war years. This good fence was able to sustain, supply and allow these Christians access to medical centers in the region. This visit will give us a first hand account on the current situation in the border of Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

Next we will drive up to the Golan Heights, where we will visit Marom Golan and Emek Ha'bachah the Valley of Tears This place was also the site of the most heroic fight between the IDF and the Syrian army during the Yom Kippur war. We will view the newly redone film Oz 77 about the Yom Kippur War and discuss (at the actual site of the battlefield bordering the current front line) the security issues that persist 46 years since that war.

Our presentaion here will shed light on another border barrier system that provides 100% security to the region. This place is the Kunaitra border crossing between Israel and Syria where Israel managed to assist many wounded on the Syrian side. This border crossing was fought for and changed hands a number of times between the Assad army and the Syrian rebels.

We will end our Golan visit in Har Ben Tal, an Israeli IDF bunker overlooking the entire valley below and the Syrian city of Kunaitra.

We make our way back to Tiberias, stopping for a view of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley from the Mount of Beatitudes. Return to our hotel for dinner followed by a panel discussion: "Israel - Western society's last line of defense"

Overnight: Sea of Galilee, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

After breakfast we will be heading for the last region of our Fact Finding Expedition. We will stay in Tel Aviv tonight. On our way we will visit the city of Nazareth (Mt of Precipice) and Caesarea, the ancient Roman capital in the region



We will try to have only a short few few visits today so you can enjoy one of the better beaches in the Medietirennean Sea. Our hotel here is on the waterfront this beach.Our program this evening: Farewell Dinner with our guests

Dinner and evening program with guest.

Overnight: Tel Aviv, Israel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Today visit and presentations will be along the border barrier between Egypt and Israel at the outskirt of the Sinai Desert. This was the border all illegal immigrants penetrating from Africa to Israel crossed from. Years of attempts to stop this flow of illegals were proven useless - this border barrier once built brought it to a complete stop. The presentation here will be by a former IDF General, Southern Division Command in charge of the region.


We will also visit the Gaza Strip region and evaluate this area's border defense line. The Gaza region "Otef Aza" is the region most affected by the Hamas aggression against Israel. This densely populated region includes the city of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot, Netivot, and many Kibbutz settlements which are all in the 15-30 second warning zone (maximum time to get shelter at time of "Red" siren alerts). We will also visit a border military installation at the Erez crossing (the border crossing between Gaza and Israel). We will listen to expert analyses on Israeli military doctrine but most emphasis today will be on the Egypt - Israel border barrier that stopped practically 100% of the illegal immigration to Israel from Africa.


After breakfast we visit the southern communities of Tel Aviv, lawless, crime infested areas totally taken over by illegal African migrants. We will tour the community to have a first hand understanding as to the problems indefensible borders cause for a sovereign nation. The border barrier with Egypt brought this migration to a stop. A solution to the existing problem in this part of Tel Aviv is a "hot potato" that will be discussed on location.


From here we continue to Latrun, in recent years this place became our must visit place when in Israel - this is the official Israel Defense Force Commemoration Center and armament display. Latrun is the fortress that was strategically built on Israel's main crossroads and throughout history protected the City of Jerusalem. The program here will include laying a wreath at the Wall of Fallen.


Farewell Dinner at hotel

Overnight: Tel Aviv
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner