Yellow Hammer’s Cliff Sims is on a ten-day educational, cultural, and political trip to Israel. Read Cliff’s explanation of the trip here & see today’s schedule below.

DAY 7: Monday, January 9, 2012

Gaza: Today we will gain a comprehensive understanding of the reality on the ground in Southern Israel following the withdrawal from Gaza. Our tour will include:
– A meeting with the national police and visit to the local headquarters
– A visit to the Sderot Indoor Recreation Center built by the American led Jewish Nation Fund
– A tour of the town of Sderot and an overlook of Gaza
– A discussion with residents of Nitzan who were evacuated from Gaza at the time of the disengagement

Meeting with Student Leaders at Sapir College

Nahal Be’er Sheva Tour: Nashal Be’er Sheva is a restoration project that also includes sport and recreation facilities. This project has already made a positive change in the quality of life of the residents of Israel’s fourth largest city.

Meeting with Mayor of Be’er Sheva, Ruvik Danilovich: Shortly after his election, Danilovich was forced to contend with Grad missiles falling on his city during Operation Cast Lead. Following the operation, Danilovich presented a ten-year plan (2010–2020) for his city to transform it into an important metropolitan area in Israel. Mayor Danilovich has charged himself with taking Beersheva — Israel’s gateway to the Negev Desert — into the twenty-first century.

Meeting with the Director of Shavuat Ha’adamah (Earth’s Promise): Earth’s Primise works with economically-disadvantaged Ethiopians in Be’er Sheva. After building urban community farms, they distribute parcels of land to Ethiopian families to farm using traditional methods and crops. This urban farming is a twenty-first century version of Ben Gurion’s dream to settle the desert, as well as a way to restore self-pride and improve quality of life.

Meeting and Dinner with Kher Albaz: Albaz is a prominent leader in Israel’s Bedouin community.

Overnight in Negev Desert