The Taglit-Birthright Israel organization that sponsors free heritage trips to Israel for young adults of Jewish descent announced this week that participants will once again be permitted to visit Gush Etzion, Ma’ale Adumim, the Armon Hanatziv promenade and the City of David site, after being declared off limits for about a year due to the security situation.
According to Makor Rishon, a few months ago Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Habayit Hayehudi), who, in his capacity as Diaspora Minister, serves as chairman of the Taglit-Birthright Israel stirring committee, asked his fellow committee members to take into consideration the fact that Israeli school students who visit these sites receive ample protection, as would surely be the case with their Taglit brethren from abroad.
The Birthright announcement assured participants and their parents that the expanded visit will be conducted in full cooperation with Israel police and would be altered in case of security threats.