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Palestine Friendship Tour


Join BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz for a learning and solidarity delegation to Palestine & Israel. We will be traveling to the West Bank, specifically engaging with Palestinian activists, freedom fighters, and with special visits to Jericho, Jerusalem, and Hebron. It is an exceptional opportunity to learn, grow and connect with leaders and communities committed to creating another world possible.

This trip is open to all, across generations.  Be aware that there is a significant amount of walking over uneven terrain.  

Cost

The cost of $2,900 will cover transportation, special guides, honoraria, meals, and accommodation in a double room. (A single room will increase the cost by $600.) Please note the cost does NOT include airfare, tips, snacks, or souvenirs.

A $500 deposit is due on Sunday, September 1. A second payment is due on Tuesday, September 10. A final payment is due on Thursday, October 10.

You can pay by Venmo @revashlee or Zelle at 617-823-7181.

Flights

Flights will be booked individually. Please plan to arrive by Monday, November 4, in the afternoon at Ben Gurion airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv. This means your flight should leave in the evening of November 3. 

We recommend you do not fly on the EL AL airline.

Trip organizers will do their best to coordinate transportation together from the airport to Bethlehem.

Zoom Gatherings

There will be 3 online gatherings before the trip:

Thursday, August 29
8 p.m. Eastern, Puerto Rico / 7 p.m. Central, Mexico / 6 p.m. Mountain / 5 p.m. Pacific

  • Introductions

  • Logsitics

  • Readings

  • Framing as a spiritual encounter

Friday, September 27

  • Movie night

Thursday, October 17

  • Final details

What to Bring

  • Passport (with a copy in your suitcase)

  • Insurance information (you can get travel/medical insurance with companies like GeoBlue)

  • Weather-appropriate clothing

    • Summer: pants, knee-length skirts, t-shirts (no bare shoulders), sandals, sneakers or comfortable walking shoes

    • Winter: pants, sweaters, coat, hat, gloves, comfortable walking shoes

    • Women should bring a scarf and long-sleeve shirt or sweater for visits to Muslim religious sites

  • Prescription medication in original bottles. Over-the-counter medications are easy to buy

  • Credit card or cash for extras and souvenirs

Trip Facilitators

The trip is organized and facilitated by Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird and Rev. Allison Tanner and is sponsored by BPFNA~Bautistas de la Paz.  

Ashlee is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain (Boston), MA.  She lived in Bethlehem for a year in 1995-1996 when she volunteered full-time for Sabeel Liberation Theology Center and the Middle East Council of Churches in Jerusalem. She has returned many times and spent 5 weeks of sabbatical in Palestine in 2022.   The tour is assisted by several local organizations and individuals, particularly Grace Tours based in Beit Sahour.

Allison is Pastor for Public Witness at Lakeshore Baptist Church in Oakland, CA and the National Organizer for the Apartheid-Free Communities Initiative. She has been working for Palestinian justice since 2017 and has made four trips to the region.  She partners closely with Kairos Palestine, a Palestinian Christian liberation movement.  

Useful Sites

Required Readings

Suggested Readings

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