West Bank : Planning Your Trip

At times during the intifada, all four West Bank universities-Birzeit, Bethlehem, Hebron, and An-Najah-were declared security threats, as they were often the venues for demonstrations and violence, and were closed by military authorities.

Today, most West Bank schools have resumed classes. If political events have not prompted the reclosing of the schools at the time of your visit, check the programs for foreign students at Birzeit University north of Ramallah. The six-week international summer program offers courses in Arabic, Palestinian society, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Palestinian women writers (July 12-Aug. 22; US$300 for language courses, US$200 for each of the others.

Housing US$200). A new year-round Palestine and Arabic program for international students, combining study of modern and colloquial Arabic with courses in the social sciences and the arts, was scheduled to start in October 1993 (US$500 for modem Arabic, US$270 for all other courses). For both programs, contact the Continuing Education Department, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, via Israel (td. (02) 95 62 29 or 95 67 69)- Birzeit also sponsors two-week international work camps with Palestinian students during August and September (US$70); contact the Office of the Community Work Program at the above address.

Several organizations aid in planning excursions to the West Bank. The Palestine Human Rights Information Center in East Jerusalem (tel. (02) 28 70 77) can provide useful information on the current political situation. Director Jan Abu-Shakra gives free lectures on the intifada to small groups. Call ahead (open Sat.-Thurs. 8am-2pm; the office is off Salah ad-Din St. Turn onto Az-Zahra St., and take the first right after the National Palace Hotel. The building is across the street from the Rome-Paris beauty salon and has an “ECRC” sign above the door). Al-Haq (tel. (02) 95 64 21), the West Bank affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, is a Palestinian human rights organization based in Ramallah that publishes informative booklets and reports (open Mon.-Sat. 8am-4:30pm; the office is on Main St., opposite the Quaker Church).

UNRWA (tel. (02) 89 04 00), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, may be able to arrange trips to refugee camps (open Sun.-Fri. 7:30am-2:30pm, Sat. 7:30am-12:3Opm; located in East Jerusalem, next to the Spanish consulate). Manager Abu Hassan of Al-Arab Hostel in Jerusalem can also arrange trips to refugee camps (see under Jerusalem Accommodations).