Delegation of African journalists tour Israel

A delegation of journalists from selected Anglophone countries recently visited Israel to gain firsthand knowledge of the country’s current political and security challenges, particularly in light of the events unfolding in the Middle East.

The focus was on Israel's situation after the October 7, 2023, devastating attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of hostages.

The study tour, sponsored by the Government of Israel and organized by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided journalists with an opportunity to better understand the ongoing situation since the Gaza war began.

During their time in Israel, the African journalists gained a deeper understanding of the resilience of the Israeli people, who, despite the ongoing challenges, remain determined to restore the country to its state prior to the attack.

The study tour

The tour included visits to notable sites such as the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem’s Old City, as well as meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The journalists also had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Mark Regev, former Ambassador to the UK and former spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Israel.

The group was privileged to meet with Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sharren Haskel at the Knesset and engage in a roundtable discussion on Israel-Africa relations with Noa Furman, head of the Bureau for the Africa Division. They also met with Rabbi David Rosen.

Additionally, the delegation had a meeting with the head of MASHAV (Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation), which is responsible for designing, coordinating, and implementing Israel's global development and cooperation programs with various countries around the world.

Historic tourism sites

The group also had time to visit some historc tourism sites and the visit to Jerusalem’s old city Surrounded by ancient walls, the Old City is home to holy sites such as the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which dates back to the 4th century.

At Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, the ultimate source for Holocaust education, documentation, and research.

Yad Vashem ("a Memorial and a Name") is Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, the journalist had a sober reflection.

The goupp allso toured, Kibbutz Kfar Aza where on October 7, 2023, around 70 Hamas militants attacked Kfar Aza, a kibbutz about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from the border with the Gaza Strip, massacring residents and abducting several hostages.

The Kibbutz

The kibbutz had more than 700 residents prior to the attack, and it took two days for the Israel Defense Forces to regain full control of the community. More than a hundred civilians died, while others were kidnapped and held hostage.

The site of the Nova music festival, "Supernova Sukkot Gathering" was a weekend-long outdoor music festival that began on October 6, 2023 and was produced by an organizer called Nova. 

The festival was one of the first targets of Hamas's surprise attack against Israel in the early morning hours of October 7 2023. 

The final figure communicated by police was 364 dead, including 17 police officers and 40 abducted.

The city of Sderot is a western Negev in the Southern District of Israel. Sderot is located less than a mile from Gaza and is notable for having been a major target of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. 

Nazareth

The city of Nazareth is the largest city in the Northern District of Israel.  Known as "the Arab capital of Israel", Nazareth serves as a cultural, political, religious, economic and commercial center for the Arab citizens of Israel.

Volcani Institute is the largest agricultural research center in Israel and one of the most renowned worldwide. Its primary roles are conducting advanced research in agriculture and food sciences with an aim to promote, and assist the Israeli agricultural sector and farmers. 

As a leading institution in applied sciences, the Volcani Institute takes part in planning, organizing, and implementing outcomes of agricultural research in Israel.

Save a Child's Heart is an Israeli NGO that saves the lives of critically ill children suffering from heart disease in countries where access to pediatric heart care is limited or nonexistent. 

Tel Aviv

The group rounded their tour at the city of Jaffa (also known as Yafo) the ancient port city out of which Tel Aviv has now grown. In recent years, like much of South Tel Aviv, this area has been regenerated. 

Jaffa ancient city is full of markets and galleries, narrow alleys, and is a vibrant blend of religions and cultural beliefs; it is also one of the trendiest spots in Tel Aviv for shopping and eating out.