Interfaith Peace-Builders Commitment to Safety
on Our Delegations

Safety of the participants on an Interfaith Peace-Builders delegation
is something that we take seriously.

From time to time, violence on the ground in Israel/Palestine captures the attention of global news media. Situations such as this frequently raise concerns about safety on the delegation, especially with family members of people who planning or thinking about going to Israel/Palestine. Interfaith Peace-Builders always carefully monitors the situation and is in regular conversation with our Israeli and Palestinian friends about ongoing developments. We expect to be able to run most delegation safely and successfully and wanted to highlight some of the steps and safeguards that we take to make all delegations safe for participants.

  • IFPB has sent 29 delegations to the region since 2001, including several during times of heightened tensions such as the Lebanon war in 2006, the Iraq war in 2003, and the Israeli reoccupation of the West Bank and Gaza in 2002. So we are experienced in monitoring and dealing with situations like the current one. We have sent – and brought back—all of our participants, almost 400 individuals.

  • We will continually monitor events and assess the prospects for a safe delegation. We will continue to be in conversation with our Israeli and Palestinian contacts to make sure it is safe to go.

  • In addition to two delegation leaders, both of whom have significant experience in the region, our delegations always have a professional Palestinian guide and driver (who are fluent in Arabic and Hebrew).

  • We travel on a private tour bus owned and run by a local travel agency. (We don’t use public transportation).

  • Our schedule is flexible so that we are able to take the situation on the ground into account on a daily basis. Our guide and leaders call ahead the day before and the morning of each visit so that we know the situation in each town and village before we arrive. If the visit looks dangerous, we change the schedule and substitute other meetings.

  • Participants on our delegations (and/or family members) should feel free to talk about this important issue with IFPB staff. Our contact information is on the top of this sheet; please be in touch with your questions and concerns.