Join peace and justice activists from around the U.S. on a delegation to Jordan and Syria, neighboring countries to Iraq and Lebanon. Meet with Iraqis and Lebanese to hear their first-hand accounts of conditions in both of these war-torn countries. Talk to Iraqis about how they view the American occupation, their views how to end it, and what they think of the prospects for reconciliation in post-occupation Iraq. Talk to refugees of the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, and their forced evacuation just after rebuilding their country from the 15-year civil war. Learn about the political situation in both Jordan and Syria by meeting with academics, activists, business people, clerics, and diplomats, hearing their various views on Americans and the role of our government and corporations in their lands. The delegation will also meet with Palestinian refugees to examine their lives in Jordan and Syria.
An optional 3-day extension is available to visit Petra, Jordan's stunning ancient city carved in red rock, along with other archeological sites around the country.
This tour is also scheduled immediately after the trip to Palestine and Israel, Prospects for Peace and Justice, so that participants are welcome to attend both trips. December 2006 Palestine and Israel Delegation.
Program Highlights:
- Meet with representatives of women's organizations working with Iraqi refugees to learn about the impact of the war on women.
- Speak to a businessman and former Iraqi National Congress member who initially supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and has since changed his views.
- Meeting with US Embassy to discuss US policy in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Middle East in general.
- Hear from an Iraqi civil engineer, blogger and mother of three whose son was kidnapped in 2005.
- Meeting with Iraqi professor of architecture and representative of UNESCO Iraq to learn about the dire situation of academics in Iraq as well as to learn about the destruction of cultural sites in the aftermath of the U.S. invasion.
- Pending availability, meeting with Dr. Bouthania Shaaban, Syria's Minister of Expatriates.
- Meet with Iraqi and Lebanese Christians at a Presbyterian church in Syria.
- Visit shelters in Damascus to speak to Lebanese made refugees by the recent Israeli invasion.
- Visit the historic Umayyad Mosque and adjacent souk of Damascus.
- Meet with international human rights groups and think tanks working on Iraq that are based in Amman.
- Meet with the UN High Commission on Refugees to learn about how the United Nations is responding to the millions of Iraqis, and most recently, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese made refugees by war and instability in the region.
- Pending permission from Jordanian government, visit Palestinian refugee camps to learn about the history of this refugee community and their hopes for the future.
- Read a sample itinerary -- Note: this is a tentative itinerary and is subject to change
Cost: $1450
Price Includes:
- Cost includes all accommodation in twin rooms, two meals/day, in-country transportation, program activities, guides and translation. Fundraising materials and a few partial scholarships are available.
How to Register:
We must receive your application and a non-refundable deposit of $200 two months before departure. A late fee of $50 will be applied to late applications. Payments by Mastercard or Visa are welcome.In order to be granted a visa for Syria, participants CANNOT have evidence of travel to Israel in their passports. Please contact the tour coordinator if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport.
This trip will be as diverse as possible in terms of race, age and life experiences. We strongly urge people of color to apply. In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.
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