Thread by @fstockman

Over 20 years, free #Birthright trips 2 #Israel have become a rite of passage for
American Jews. But over the past year, they have also become a target of Jewish protesters who say the trips "hide" the occupation.nyti.ms/2IwIzn0

Progressive Jewish groups, including @IfNotNowOrg and @jstreetu have asked Birthright to include more information about Arab Israelis and Palestinians. Some walked-off trips last summer to visit Palestinians.

Eric Axelman, director of Israelism, told me: “I’ve never heard of any person who has had any conversation with a Palestinian about politics on a Birthright trip.” His trip visited a Dead Sea resort but the guide didn't talk about the fact that they were in the West Bank.

It's not just @jstreetu. Princeton started its own trips to Israel 8 years ago after students complained about #Birthright. “Kids want to see both sides of the story, however supportive they are of Israel,” said fmr US ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer who leads Princeton trip

I wanted to know what it was like to be on a #Birthright trip that had a walk off. I interviewed 6 pple from that trip, some who walked off and some who didn’t. Biggest take away: Even those who didn’t agree with the walk-off expressed an interesting in hearing from Palestinians

I’d love to hear from readers about their own #Birthright trips. What was the best part? The worst part? Do you feel you learned enough about the conflict on the trip, or are you happy with the experience? tinyurl.com/y2a6usys