Join Operation Groundswell Middle East as we bring a group of diverse young people together for one full month to explore the reality behind the Middle East conflict.

Participants will eat and live, do volunteer work and travel in the real Middle East while being situated in central Israel between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the West Bank. We seek those who are committed to expanding their horizons, learning more about the situation and engaging in open dialogue from a moderate pluralist perspective. Our program is unique in offering young people the opportunity to explore both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian divide with an impartial focus. Our organization is led by former trip-leaders of a wide range of Middl East tour experiences. As such, we are keenly aware of security and safety as paramount to those unfamiliar with the region.

At Operation Groundswell, we won't give you the answers, but together, we will ask the right questions.

Following the Operation Groundswell model, the group volunteer project will likely be with the non-governmental organization 'Rabbis for Human Rights' (RHR). RHR provides us the opportunity to connect with people on all sides of the situation while giving a holistic outlook that most people never understand. Volunteer projects may include working with Bedouin youth in the West Bank or teaching English to new immigrants in Israel. With our trip leaders, you will also plan group trips at least once a week, so you can take control of your own experience. These trips could include visits to communal farms known as 'kibbutzim', refugee camps in the West Bank, religious sites like the mystical city of Tzfat, a Negev desert hike, various tours of Israeli settlements, Palestinian towns or the controversial Separation Barrier.

Participants will also have Individual Travel Time (ITT) - a staple of Operation Groundswell trips since the beginning. All participants will be given detailed travel guides and information on the best places to see and how to stay safe. You can travel independently if you desire but everyone is urged to travel in pairs or groups. During this time, participants are not under the auspices of the organized program and are entirely responsible for themselves. Participants are given the emergency contact number of trip organizers during ITT for any advice or safety concerns. The group will reconvene for a trip debriefing known as the 'Disorientation' prior to flying home.