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Trip organizers and tour guides engage and encourage participants to discuss political issues. Because the tour takes place in a controlled environment the result is often biased or skewed opinions. Access to information through the internet and other sources, such as Israel’s Arab population, is limited. The result is often opinions and assumptions based on religious and cultural ideals which are driven by feelings, rumors, stories and myths spread by word of mouth which is far away from any form of objective discussion. An indirect effect is that something that was supposed to be fun and social becomes something political and depressing which is not what it is supposed to be. Most participants enjoy the travel experience, however.
False advertising
Advertising for the trip reads as "Absolutely Free". There are however, the following costs and requirements:
$250US, $300 Canadian deposit.
$60US Tip for the security guards.
Passport and military exemption costs for participants with Israeli citizenship.
Immunization
Travelers insurance
Currency conversion to Shekels is done at the beginning of the trip at a very unfavorable rate
Common 7 am wake up call
Mandatory attendance at presentations, lectures, videos, tours and discussion. This leaves about one or two hours of free time per day most of the days, if the person doesn't mind getting 4 hours of sleep per day and doesn't need time for showering, brushing teeth and packing. Many participants just sleep through the buss rides and videos and lectures because they are just too tired to do anything else.
In addition, trips often expose participants to political issues while sleep deprived which reduced the ability for objective discussion.
Living conditions
Up to thee participants are cramped into single room hotel suites. Some rooms have clogged sinks, out of service elevators, and no air conditioning. Some participants would prefer to stay in a hostel instead which is more accommodating for multiple roommates. Due to sleep deprivation many participants get sick and feel exhausted by the end of the trip. Some participants are afraid to express their true opinions because of the emotional nature of the issues.
Many participants wish for better living conditions, less strict environment, more free time, more time to sleep and less politics.
—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Sts3236 (talk • contribs) 10 August 2007.
Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 29 June 2023[edit]
This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.
Not done for now: If this file is uploaded to Commons in line with the image use policy (WP:IG), then we would be able to use it. Mattdaviesfsic (talk) 06:57, 30 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks! I just reuploaded. Didn't see until now and submit a separate request.
Not done for now: I've left a talkback on the IP editor's page in hopes of garnering a response. In the meantime, failing to answer a question after 4 days puts this in "awaiting user input" territory, and qualifies setting the template to answered. —Sirdog(talk) 02:42, 13 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]
Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 29 April 2024[edit]
This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.