Learning Across Borders

Rabbi Michael Cohen wants Palestinians to study at his school, The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies — he just can’t get permission for them to come. He discusses his problem at the end of an op-ed in Ha’aretz:

A case in point is the example of the Palestinian doctoral student who recently petitioned the Israeli High Court to be allowed to study in Israel. There are hundreds like her. For years now the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies - the premier teaching and research program in the Middle East where future Arab and Jewish leaders are prepared to cooperatively solve the region’s environmental challenges - has been unable to get permits for Palestinian students to study on its Kibbutz Ketura campus. In addition, getting visas for Jordanians who wish to study at the institute has become a very complicated process.
At present the Arava Institute has put together a coaltion that includes the office of U.S. Ambassador Richard Jones, USAID, MKs Orit Noked and Ami Ayalon, and Gisha - the Center for the Legal Protection of Freedom of Movement. This coalition is working to challenge and change the present Israeli policy of not issuing any new study permits for Palestinians, who have cleared security clearance from the Shin Bet, and who wish to study in Israel.
This continued policy flies in the face of the Agreement on Movement and Access that was signed by the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority in November 2005 when U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in the region.
Over the past year a number of Palestinian students have applied to study at the Arava Institute. One plans, after he receives his training there, to “establish a nonviolent environmental NGO to help foster Palestinian civic society,” while another wants to “learn to use the environment as an approach to peace-building between Palestinians and Israelis.” A third looks to gain skills at the institute that will help him “conserve bio-diversity in the Palestinian Authority and raise public awareness of the issue within the PA.” They have all been denied permission to study at the institute because of the present Israeli policy.

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