The Palestine and Israel in Context internship is for students (undergraduate and graduate level), professionals, retirees or indeed anybody interested in the political history and present-day reality of Palestine and Israel. This internship program in the West Bank, targets students of the humanities and social sciences who are looking for ways to understand the Israeli/Palestinian situation at first hand. 

By taking part in this internship program, students will be better able to understand and grasp the effects of the conflict at first hand, and will witness the genuine opinions of everyday people, quite separate from the political headlines. We welcome students from all disciplines of the humanities, including but not restricted to the political sciences, international relations and non-profit management.

Furthermore, this internship program is ideal for individuals looking to specialize in Middle Eastern studies, Arabic studies or Islamic studies and who are hoping to frame that experience within a cultural context. Interns will get the opportunity to experience the occupation in the West Bank as well as meeting with Palestinian individuals and families who are subject to Israeli military law.

Interns in Palestine will be provided with an Arabic Course tailored to their level of proficiency (three hours per week). Learners will be able to practice their Arabic skills on a daily basis when talking to locals, taking public transportation, ordering from a restaurant and in many other situations. With full immersion in their surroundings, participants will therefore have plenty of chances to enhance their Arabic skills.

If students are looking for a language experience combined with cultural immersion and political research, consider the Palestine and Israel in Context program. It is guaranteed to give you an in-depth perspective on the Palestinian/Israeli situation! 

Looking For Summer Internships?

Engage in Palestine works with and is supported by the Palestinian Educational Authority, meaning that university credits are available for many of its programs, making this particular program a desirable internship opportunity. If enrolled in this program as an intern, students will gain a broader perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian situation.

Interns will have the opportunity to create dialogues on the contemporary situation in Palestine with university staff and students, lawyers, human rights actors, local politicians as well as everyday people. This internship is ideal for students who are seeking a unique, hands-on experience. 

The Palestine And Israel In Context Internship Program

This Internship program is designed to increase participants’ knowledge of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict, immersing them in its politics and history as well as creating avenues for cross-cultural communication and further understanding. By enrolling in this program participants can become leaders in communication by spearheading community outreach programs and by acting as cultural ambassadors for their country of origin.

The program is outreach-based, meaning that its participants will spend the majority of their time interacting with the community of Hebron, Palestine. There is a plethora of ways in which participants can engage in community outreach, some of which are highlighted here: They may spend time discussing the politics of Palestine with local university students; interacting with locals and discovering how the conflict has influenced their lives; gathering opinions on the relations between Israel and Palestine; visiting refugee camps or discussing the geopolitical circumstance of Palestine with local politicians.

Community-Based Outreach Activities

In addition, participants will take part in outreach activities in Hebron, Palestine. The participants themselves may be tasked with coming up with ideas for community-based outreach activities that will benefit the local Palestinian community in the city of Hebron.

Examples of such activities include organizing educational workshops for Palestinian children and refugees. These workshops could cover topics such as conversational English lessons, English writing, CV/résumé writing, computer programing as well as many others. Whatever their skills, the Engage in Palestine is happy to work with participants to design educational workshops for the people of Palestine!

Furthermore, interns in Hebron can organize community sporting events, informational cultural presentations and other activities. Participants will not have to go it alone when creating these activities. With the help of the Center they can work with university students, local community actors and Palestinian politicians who can inspire them to enact their programs. The sky’s the limit!

Specific Program Outline:

• Engage actively with the Palestinian people of Hebron.
• Understand the Palestinian and Israeli situation in depth.
• Attend presentations and workshops on the Israeli / Palestinian situation.
• Experience the current politics and human rights situation in the West Bank
• Understand the Palestinian / Israeli conflict at grass-roots level
• Work with community members to create educational outreach programs.
• Attend Arabic classes for 3 hours a week.
• Create a presentation about the intern’s experiences in Palestine.
• Help the Palestinian community in Hebron

Who Would An Internship In Palestine Suit?

The Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine in Hebron, Palestine was founded in June 2011. Since then, interns from all over the world have come to join our family in Hebron. Our interns have traveled from countries such as the USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Canada and many more.

In general, the Palestine and Israel in Context Internship is suitable for:

• Students of the Middle East, refugee law or human rights
• Gap year students
• University students who wish to do a semester abroad (for a university credit)
• Participants who are interested in understanding the politics of Palestine
• Arabic and Islamic Studies students
• Participants who wish to learn Arabic and immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of Palestinians
• People who are interested in meeting Palestinians
• Everyone who is willing to help and make a difference in Palestine

Engage in Palestine welcomes individuals from all nationalities and backgrounds to apply for an internship in Palestine. The program is designed for people who would like to live in a dynamic place like Palestine while getting practical experience in their fields of interest and skills.

What Do You Need in Order to Intern in Palestine

• To be 18 years of age or over
• To have a positive attitude and a willingness to learn about Palestine
• To have an interest in meeting many people in Palestine
• The ability to communicate in English
• Willingness to be part of a family in Hebron

What Don’t You Need in Order to Intern in Palestine:

• The ability to speak Arabic
• Travel experience
• To be a native English speaker
• An educational degree
• Experience in teaching English
• To be a student

Great Impact

Our Volunteer and Internship programs in the West Bank, Palestine are well researched, targeted, and suitable for anyone who wants to gain insights into daily Palestinian legal affairs, politics and human rights.

We aim to make a long term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Volunteering and interning is a unique opportunity to genuinely make an impact on your life as well as others including Palestinian children, refugees, youth and community members in the West Bank, Palestine.

What You Will Contribute

As an intern on the Palestine and Israel in Context Internship Program you will not only be studying the issues at hand but will also be working with the Center to create constructive programs geared toward benefiting members of the Palestinian community here in Hebron, West Bank.

Examples of these constructive programs can include educational workshops designed to teach local Palestinians practical skills. These may be presented on such topics as résumé writing and English language acquisition. Interns could also develop workshops that address fundamental cultural disagreements and how to resolve them (this specific program would be perfect for those majoring in Conflict Resolution). At the Engage in Palestine  we would like to invite people from around the world to come to Palestine and utilize their individual expertise to help the people of Hebron.

Additional program options include helping local schools educate Palestinian children on a variety of subjects. These include conversational English, science, arts and music.

Benefits of Interning In Hebron, Palestine.

Participating in Hebron on the Palestine and Israel in Context program will present the intern with opportunities for cultural immersion in order to make the greatest impact. By taking part in this program, participants will reach out to the Palestinian community of Hebron. They will conduct research about the conflict between Israel and Palestine as well as immersing themselves in Levantine culture. These factors will combine to provide interns with a well-rounded understanding of the Israeli/Palestinian situation as well as Palestinian and Levantine culture as a whole.

When interning in Palestine, participants will find themselves at the heart of Arabic culture and life. This may entail visiting local shops and restaurants, taking part in Palestinian festivals and cultural events, navigating the complex and intricate communities of Hebron, touring cultural heritage sights, venturing into Palestine’s beautiful natural parks and meeting with local politicians and community actors. In addition, interning in Hebron will give participants the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the Arabic language. With over 300 million native speakers, learning the Arabic Language will open many doors and will further connect participants to the community of Hebron.

Visit Areas Of Humanitarian And Political Significance In Hebron

Interns will have the opportunity to visit areas of humanitarian and political significance in Hebron. These areas include refugee camps and settlements located on the fault lines of Palestine and Israel. The purpose of visiting these sites is simple – interns will gain a better understanding of the Palestinian – Israeli conflict by speaking to those most affected. This can include refugees and those whose lives have been directly affected by Israeli settlements. When visiting these locations, however, the Engage in Palestine makes it its mission to include the opinions of as many people as possible on all sides of  the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Interning in Hebron on the Palestine and Israel in Context program will provide numerous opportunities for connecting participants to the rich culture, history and modern life of Palestine and the Levant. Furthermore, visiting Hebron will immerse program participants in the political realities of  Israel and Palestine, helping them develop a concise grasp of its impacts, repercussions, and potential solutions. Finally, working in Hebron will provide participants with the opportunity to lead and take an active role in any community that needs it.

Benefits Of The Palestine and Israel In Context Internship Program:

Participants of the Internship program will be provided with:

• 12 hours of conversational Palestinian Arabic lessons for each month that they intern. Participants can also study MSA, Fusha or colloquial Arabic.

• Accommodation with a Palestinian host family or in a shared flat.

• Breakfast with other participants (6 times a week)

• Support during their time in Palestine

• An opportunity to visit various sites in the city of Hebron (refugee camps, the old city, different factories, etc.)

• An understanding of Palestinian politics and an experience of the occupation of the West Bank 

• An insight into the human rights situation and an opportunity to help Palestinian refugees. 

• Educational, community and social activities

• An experience of the hospitality of Palestinians and of the pleasant climate

• An opportunity to live in and gain impressions from one of the most politically divisive and ambivalent regions of the Middle East.

• The chance to visit unique tourist attractions from a particularly native perspective – locations including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin and the Dead Sea in Jericho.

• The ability to visit nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.

• The assistance of well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, all with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you.

• The opportunity to lead projects which will help the people of Palestine, Palestinian children and refugees.

• A certificate upon completion.

Who Can Participate?

Engage in Palestine does not discriminate on any basis. This includes a person’s nationality, ethnicity, religious standing, gender, sexual orientation or any other basis. Furthermore, the Engage in Palestine  has a long history of welcoming people from around the globe.

Participants have visited the Engage in Palestine  from the following countries: The United Kingdom, the United States of America, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, South Korea, Ireland, China, and New Zealand!

Interested In Political Science, Communications and Community Activism?

This internship program is ideal for anyone who is interested in political science, community activism and dialogue between different groups of people. Participants will work within the Palestinian community of Hebron, conferring with varying actors and leaders, as well as meeting local politicians and discussing the many issues of Palestine. This program is ideal for those interested in the politics of Palestine, the  human rights situation and the Palestinian – Israeli conflict.

For those interested in communications and community activism, this internship program offers numerous opportunities for leading and designing community outreach programs, for educational activities, as well as for activities within the Center. In addition, this program offers the relevant university credits!

This internship program is perfect for anyone interested in the following:

• Political science
• Conflict and refugees studies
• Middle Eastern studies
• Community Activities
• Communications work
• The politics of Israel and Palestine
• University credits

Program Housing And Accommodations

During their time in Hebron, Palestine, participants will have the opportunity to reside with a Palestinian host family! This valuable opportunity will immerse students completely in the Arabic language, as well as providing them with a rare look into Palestinian life and culture. This could mean taking part in family meals, witnessing Palestinian cultural events, seeing the ins and outs of daily life in Hebron and much more!

If a host family is unavailable (only applying to male participants), program participants will have the option to either reside in a shared flat or in a dorm in the center of Hebron. In both cases, participants will have plenty of opportunities to immerse themselves in Arabic culture and to conduct research outside of their time with the Center!

What Language Is The Program Run In?

The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship is geared toward English speakers. For the sake of immersion, however, the higher the course level the less English will be utilized in the classroom. While living in Hebron, students will also be required to utilize their Arabic skills to the best of their ability, creating a fully immersive experience.

General Information Regarding the Internship Program:

• Registration fee: 30€/$ paid once at registration
• Community breakfast at the center each morning
• Accommodation
• Pre-departure and in-country support
• Arabic classes (3 hours a week)
• Certificate of completion
• Visits to different institutions in the city of Hebron, e.g. the old city, glass and ceramic factories, local companies, refugee camps, public parks and local universities such as the Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University

Reviews And Ratings

We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2022 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities and one of the top three language schools worldwide by Go Overseas. We received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in 2022. The Excellence Center was also recognized as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits” and one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”. 

In 2021, we were ranked as one of the top three programs in the world for providing volunteer opportunities, demonstrating our continued commitment to “excellence.” In the categories of “best language school” and “fun” and “education,” we won the community choice awards from Go Overseas.

Our inaugural “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” were given to us in 2019 to recognize the influence Engage in Palestine has had on the global travel community. Across its range of programs, Engage in Palestine continues to receive excellent reviews from travelers. 

• +730 reviews (93%) on gooverseas.com
• +120 reviews (96%) on goabroad.com
• Video testimonials

Duration Of The Internship in Palestine

Engage in Palestine accepts applications year-round (Summer, Winter, Fall, and Spring) from individuals looking to intern with our Palestinian organisation for a period of between 1 to 13 weeks.

The participants themselves decide when they would like to start and end their program. We are very flexible with starting dates and with the duration of program.

How Do I Get To Hebron?

Unfortunately, Palestine does not have any airports in the West Bank or the Gaza strip. Palestinians use the airports in Jordan or Egypt to travel abroad instead. International interns in Palestine may also fly to Israeli airports and then cross into Hebron in the West bank.

The easiest way to get to Hebron and the Engage in Palestine :

• Fly to Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport (Israel). It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to Hebron and the center via shared Taxi.

• You can also fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then cross to Palestine, but it takes more time and is more expensive.

• Finally, you can fly to Eilat Ramon airport (South of Israel) and travel onwards by booking a shuttle, or taking a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron. This trip to Hebron can take between 6 and 7 hours.

Do I Need A Visa To Intern In The West Bank?

Most of Engage in Palestine ’s participants in the Internship Program receive a tourist visa for three months when they fly into Israeli airports or cross the checkpoint from Jordan to the West Bank.

In general, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans in order to enter Palestine (and Israel), as these interns usually qualify for a  visa exemption agreement. When you arrive at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days which allows you to travel in Palestine and Israel.

Summary

Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate, professional, retiree or just someone interested in the political history or current situation, the Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program is for you! With the ability to hear the opinions of everyday people and understand, grasp and witness the effects of the conflict first hand, this is a fantastic opportunity to gain insider knowledge beyond the headlines

The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program is ideal for anyone interested in community development, diplomacy and political science, and also for those looking to make a difference and who are open to new experiences. During their time in Hebron, interns will have the opportunity to reach out to many Palestinians, both local actors and community leaders.

In addition, interns will have the opportunity to lead and design community outreach activities and educational programs. Finally, international interns’ experiences in Palestine will culminate in their giving a presentation that will explain what they have learned from their time in the West Bank. They will also of course be learning Arabic during their time here, while immersing themselves in Palestinian life and culture.

How To Apply

If you are interested in participating in this program, please write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org. We should be able to respond to your initial enquiry within 1 – 2 business days.

In the subject line of your email write “The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program.” Upon writing back to you we will attach an application form, which you will fill out and return to us to begin the process.

Related Internship Programs

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