The young Jews who walked off the trip and some others who remain on them are critical of what they say is Birthright’s failure to deal with Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Some have complained that maps handed out to participants do not draw a proper distinction between Israel and the West Bank.Bronfman said in his interview with Haaretz that participants on Birthright can extend their trip and join any kind of group they want or travel on their own to Palestinian areas.“If they want to go to the West Bank or Gaza, they are certainly free to go,” he told Haaretz.“What is not fair is making a big tzimmes while the trip is on. Frankly, I just don’t think that is fair to their fellow participants.”Bronfman expressed concern over improperly marked maps, however, saying he hoped it was a one-time mistake.He noted that the Birthright experience includes four hours devoted to discussing the situation between Israel and the Palestinians, both in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, as impartially as possible.“I don’t see the issue not being addressed,” he said.Bronfman called the walk-offs a sign of Birthright’s success.“If we weren’t successful,” he said, “we wouldn’t have the problem.”BREAKING: Another group of young American Jews just walked off their @Birthright trip, to meet with a Palestinian family and see the reality of the Occupation for themselves, a reality Birthright actively hides #NotJustAFreeTripFull video: https://t.co/jfCD5XJblR pic.twitter.com/Dx3AH49JSa
— IfNotNow (@IfNotNowOrg) July 15, 2018
Birthright co-founder: Don't use a free trip to criticize Israel
Billionaire philanthropist Charles Bronfman speaks out on the recent Birthright walk-offs sparked by ifNotNow.
