Ever since the start of the second intifada and its violence, American universities have clamored to pull the plug on foreign study programs to Jerusalem and Israel. Though the security concerns are understandable, the option to study a term in the Middle East should still remain open. Safety should be a university's number one concern for its students. And it is. Yes, there have been bombings and invariably more will come. Israel is not the safest place in the world. However, the termination of these foreign study programs not only misinform students of the true situation in Israel, but do a great disservice to those wanting to learn firsthand of Israel and the Middle East as well as the realities of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
When I approached the College for assistance for my trip to Israel, I was turned down due to the present security situation. Perhaps they believed I was going into some sort of war-torn ghetto. It's not so hard to believe this, either. Anyone who peruses a newspaper or channel-surfs can easily misconstrue Israel to be a nightmare. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and most other news sources report only the violence and suffering that occur in Israel. With all the fear-evoking publicity Israel is bestowed, how could you not believe this tiny country was engaged in full-scale street combat, or that present-day Babylonian hordes were not besieging the ancient walls of Jerusalem? The first time I went to the Holy City, I half expected to be greeted by Mercava tanks, razor wire and the sound of approaching mortar booms. Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth. There are indeed soldiers and security guards glaring mistrustfully at passersby, yet the air is scented with orange and spice, not gun powder.
Despite all the negative news coverage, Israel still manages to attract countless U.S. tourists and university students. Many of these students defy the wishes of their universities and enroll in Israeli schools for a semester or longer. Their numbers are most evident on Saturday nights, when they are in full force on the streets of Jerusalem enjoying the nightlife.
Some are religious yeshiva students, others are secular scholars. Although their interests vary greatly, they all understand the true security situation in Israel. Some areas must be avoided, but the majority of Jerusalem and Israel is welcoming to tourists and students. A large percentage of these students have family and friends in Israel. The negative portrayal of Israel by the media is counter-balanced by reality. Israel is a vibrant and exciting country, faced with a difficult security situation. Those brave students and tourists who, despite the chagrin of friends and family members, visit the Middle East, understand quickly that the real Israel is nothing like the fictitious one the media portrays.
If anything, American universities should encourage students to study in Jerusalem and Israel now more than ever. There is no better way to learn about the realities of the Middle East than to observe it firsthand. It is very easy to be misinformed by The New York Times' tear-jerking tales or the graphic video clips on CNN. These bombastic news clips obfuscate reality. The dry readings and lectures presented in a history class fail to elucidate why Jerusalem is such a "hot potato" and why peace is so elusive. However, a visit to the Western Wall and a glance at the golden Dome of the Rock punctuates the importance of these sites. In the comfortable classrooms of Reed Hall, students never get to interact with those that are directly affected by terrorism, Israeli occupation and life under the international magnifying glass. Both Arabs and Jews are more than willing to share their experiences and tumultuous lives with anyone who asks. Although Dartmouth and other universities try their best to invite intellectuals and statesmen involved in the conflict to speak with interested students, these lecturers usually are removed from daily life or intent on applying mathematical equations to a situation that is equally emotional as political. Instead of trying to import speakers to the United States, universities should export students to the Middle East. A peace can only be acheived by mutual empathy and understanding. One cannot solve the Arab-Israeli conflict with a textbook and calculator. It can be found on the winding streets and alleyways of Jerusalem and wedged between the Western Wall's cracks.
Ever since the start of the Palestian-Israeli conflict, the United States has, to some extent, held the reins to the future of the region. As our wellbeing is increasingly bound to the Middle East's, we need to start educating ourselves on the truth of Israel and Palestine. We can only understand such an emotional conflict like the Arab-Israeli conflict through firsthand observation. Turn off the television and buy a ticket to Israel -- let the truth speak for itself.
