"Stop over in Ma'ale Yosef and enjoy the warm home hospitality!"

Each summer approximately 2000 British youth aged 14-15 arrive on Israel Tours to travel in and become acquainted with the country. For some of them it is their first time in Israel and for most of them the first time traveling together with Israeli youth.

Three youth from Ma'ale Yosef joined the Hanoar Hatzioni and Maccabi Israel Tour and became an integral part of the group. In each place and each experience they helped the British youth see, feel and understand Israel from an Israeli point of view.

After a week and a half of traveling the country the Tour stopped for a short while in the home region of the Israeli participants, Ma'ale Yosef. For three days they were hosted in the homes of regional youth, veterans of Partnership 2000 projects, and got to know personally the local population.

The visit began in Mitzpe Hila, where they met with the spokesman of the "Return Gilad Shalit" campaign and later they visited the abduction point of two other Israeli soldiers on the northern border. In Moshav Meona they experienced agriculture in the area first-hand by gathering eggs and picking mushrooms.

The visit was organized by Oren Havousha, veteran hanich and madrich of Partnership 2000 delegations. The British hanichim had a meaningful experience in home hospitality.

It is important to come and tour Israel as a tourist, but in order to understand and really experience the reality of Israel, one should meet Israelis face to face. These visits in the region increase the identification of Jews in the Diaspora with Israel in general and with the Confrontation Line in particular.