The #NotJustAFreeTrip campaign states on its website that “young American Jews will be making sure that our peers know that Birthright is not just a free trip. Using a diversity of methods, we will give our generation… a chance at seeing the full picture that we didn’t have...to help them better understand what the Occupation really means for Palestinians, Israelis, and our Jewish community, and to reject Birthright’s attempt to narrowly limit our access to the complex truths of life in Israel/Palestine.”Lasloff said that none of the five IfNotNow activists on her group came to disrupt the Birthright trip and “did not come with an agenda.”She said, however, that all five have participated in IfNotNow activities prior to this summer, “identify with their message and share the same politics.”Lasloff declined to answer if she personally supported a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestinian conflict, nor would she comment, when asked, if she would describe herself as a Zionist, saying that the issue is “complicated.”One participant in the trip, Katie Anne, wrote on Facebook during the first day of the trip: “Today on my Birthright trip we spent a bit of time learning about the importance of water in Judaism. If we value water so much, why is Israel limiting the amount of drinkable water in Gaza and the West Bank?”Katie Anne also posted a picture of herself on her Facebook page riding on a camel holding up a sign with another activist saying “End the Occupation.”Lasloff said she and the other activists had raised several questions about the occupation during the trip and felt that they were avoided and obfuscated.“A professional speaker actively avoided several of our questions, and we felt like it wasn’t a full, fair and balanced view of the actual situation and reality,” she said.Lasloff also pointed out that maps used on the tour did not show the Green Line delineating between Israel and the West Bank, “which flagged for us that Birthright wasn’t taking the occupation seriously and was not educating about [it].”She added that “if thousands of Jews are coming and getting a one sided view of whats happening, then that's not right, and that's something we should demand better.”Asked if their participation in the trip, given their activism, was honest, Lasloff said she’s “not sure if there is an honest or dishonest way of making change,” and rejected the notion that setting up an independent, free Israel tour scheme to discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict would be more sincere method of dealing with the issue.In response to the incident, Birthright Israel said: “Since we respect the ability of our participants to formulate their own views, we reject the promotion of any agendas, attempts at manipulation or provocations from either political side.”The Reservists on Duty organization said it had noted in recent months, “concerning attempts by extremist organizations in Israel and the United States to incite Jewish youth against Israel.“Today, those attempts reached a new low – infiltration and deliberate disruption to a consensus organization which is aimed at bringing Jews closer to Israel,” it said.Me and four other participants walked off our #birthright trip since they wouldn't show the occupation, we're going to Hebron to see it for ourselves with @BtSIsrael https://t.co/nKdUbqxnu1
— Danielle Raskin (@DanielleRaskin1) June 28, 2018
Left-wing NGO crashes Birthright group to spread 'anti-Occupation' info
Group says it expects more such incidents likely to happen this summer.
