Security Update - January 10

Dear Parents,

Shavua Tov! I hope that you have all had a relaxing weekend and an enjoyable shabbat. I just wanted to fill you all in on both the current security guidelines and protocol, as well as give you an update of the workshoppers settling into their new surroundings in Akko & Karmiel.

Since my last blog entry two days ago, the situation in the North remains the same. Under the security guidelines of the Israel Experience Ltd, there is freedom of movement for all programs along the northern border of the country. The security division of the Israel Experience is monitoring the situation very closely, and as anything changes we will update both participants and parents as early as possible.

I also wanted to relate to the security process that we undergo, as a number of parents have asked about contingency plans, and have compared the current situation to the situation that the group experienced on MBI in 2006. The security process that stands behind the program is the same security process that stood behind the MBI program in 2006. The reason why the group was continuously moved south in 2006 was because the security division of the Israel Experience Ltd created an imaginary line across the country, through which groups adhered to when undertaking their program activities. At no point were groups permitted to travel north of that security line, and MBI in 2006 adhered to those security guidelines stringently. Travelling north of that line, which extended south of Haifa, would have placed the group and it's participants in potential harm, according to the security guidelines of the Israel Experience Ltd.

At this point in time, there is no security line in the north of Israel. The minute that the Israel Experience security division notifies us that there are areas in the north deemed unsafe, according to their security guidelines, then we will re-assess the situation. If the groups in Akko and Karmiel are north of those lines, then we will act immediately to move them south, in conjunction with the Israel Experience guidelines, and we will move them to temporary housing locations in the centre of the country.

I understand all of your concerns and worries in regards to security throughout Israel at this time. All I can ask is to have trust in the security protocol and decision-making processes of the program co-ordinators, and of the Israel Experience Ltd. The security and safety of the Workshop participants is of paramount importance to everyone, and will not be compromised for anything.

This week, the workshoppers will begin their educational volunteering projects in Akko, Karmiel, and the surrounding areas. The group had a chance to see some of the schools and educational institutions in which they will be working last Wednesday, when they did a tour of some of the places and met a number of the guides and teachers that they will be working with. Needless to say, the group is very inspired to begin this exciting new chapter of Workshop, and I will post an outline of their educational projects on the blog in the coming days to let all of you know exactly where they will be and what they will be doing.

I would like to wish all of you a safe, healthy, and happy week. I'll be posting again soon so watch this space!

Regards,

Leon.