By Deborah Eisner
Justice Editorial Board

As the latest chapter in the Middle East peace process comes to an unsuccessful end, fewer Brandeis students are traveling to Israel than have in past years.

This year only 11 students have spent or will spend their junior year abroad in Israel, while 58 other students toured the country on the Brandeis Hillel/Birthright Israel trip. These numbers represent a decline from last year’s numbers, according to Brandeis administrators.

Since September, Israel and the occupied territories have experienced one of the longest periods of sustained violence in recent history. The violence has affected travel to the region, as the United States Department of State has issued a level two travel advisory to the region. There are three levels on this scale.

Study Abroad Coordinator Scott Van Der Meid said that out of the 14 students who named Israel as their first choice for study abroad this semester, only four are actually going. Five withdrew entirely and the rest have decided to study in another country.

Similarly, Cindy Spungin, director of student activities for Hillel, said the Birthright trip was originally slotted for 70 students, but the volatile political situation caused many students to withdraw.

Shari Silverman ‘02 withdrew from her spot two days before the trip in light of a bombing in Tel-Aviv.

“The whole time I was kind of nervous, but...it became more real,”she said. “I kind of knew in the back of my head that there wouldn’t be any problems, but I was afraid.” While some students opted to stay home, others have followed through with their travel and study plans.

Rachel Arcus ‘02 has been at Hebrew University in Jerusalem since the beginning of the academic year and will be there this semester as well. She said she was nervous when the violence first broke out in September, but has since grown accustomed to life in Israel.

“I told myself that the point at which I would go home was either a war or when I felt that my personal safety was at risk. There were times when I was seriously faced with the reality of that second question. At what point is my personal safety at risk?” she wrote in an e-mail interview. “But I’m very glad that I made the decision to stay and at this point, I’m not sure if I would leave until my year here is over, no matter what is going on here.”

Jared Willis ‘02, who is studying at the University of Haifa, said the key is to think before you act and not to put yourself in a dangerous situation.

Jane Foster ‘03, a participant on the Birthright trip, echoed these feelings. She said her trip taught her that the day-to-day life of Israeli citizens continues, despite the political situation. “Once we were in Israel, you couldn’t even tell. I don’t think anyone ever felt unsafe,” she said.

Josh Rubin ‘01, a participant on the Birthright trip said he feels the benefits of going on the trip outweighed the risks. He said the political situation affected the activities on the trip in that some activities were tailored around the peace process and that there was heightened security.

Spungin said the Birthright program did step up security for this year’s trip by having one armed Israeli soldier on each of the two buses. Additionally, the trip leaders were in touch with an Israeli government agency that coordinates field trips for Israeli school children. In the event of safety concerns, last minute itinerary changes could be made, though no such situations arose.

Van Der Meid said Brandeis takes similar precautions, using three indicators to determine when to pull students out of the country. In addition to the State Department’s advisories, Van Der Meid is in contact with representatives at each of the host universities and with Rose Weinberg, the coordinator of Brandeis’ Israel Alumni Chapter.

While Brandeis does reserve the right to bring a student home from a study abroad in a dangerous country, Van Der Meid stressed that this would only happen in severe conditions in which he and other administrators feared for the safety of the student. He said they also consider the accommodations that can be made in the event that they bring a student home.