JERUSALEM (EJP)—Thirteen journalists from top newspapers and television in several European countries will embark next week for a first-hand experience of the complexities and challenges of Israel during a 4-day intense and informative press trip organized by the Europe Israel Press Association (EIPA).
The 4-day tour of journalists from France, Britain, Germany, Holland, Italy, Hungary, Spain and Ukraine will be foremost focusing on security and geopolitical issues but will also explore some of Israel’s industrial, high-tech and agricultural most innovative developments as well as the latest trends in EU-Israel relations.
During the trip the journalists will have in particular the unique opportunity to visit the pedestrian/cargo border crossing of Erez, located in the northern end of the Gaza Strip, the Barkan industrial Park in Samaria (in the central part of the West Bank) w where they will be able to witness how 120 businesses and factories employ both Israelis and Palestinians alike, and also Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and Syria where they will be briefed on the impact of the Syrian civil war and the Hezbollah threat to Israel’s security.
The press tour will also include a meeting with Israel’s Minister of Economy Naftali Bennett, himself also a former successful high-tech entrepreneur, as well as lectures and briefings at the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense on the current political and security issues.
Founded in 2012 by a group of private individuals, EIPA is an independent organization which helps media professionals in Europe in their daily work with news facts, background information, valuable key contacts, research and analysis.
EIPA, which has offices in Brussels and Tel Aviv, is also a valuable source of key contacts for journalists searching for quotes from and interviews with spokespersons and experts. It operates also as a platform where journalists can interact and share information both in Europe and in Israel.
‘’EIPA operates independently as a peer-to-peer support for journalists, editors-in-chief, reporters, bloggers and opinion makers to generate greater insight and knowledge concerning the complexities and the challenges relating to Israel and the broader Middle East,’’ it says on its website www.eipa.eu.com
It has built an information center (in English and Russian and soon in French) where journalists and media users can find current news and information on various aspects of Israeli life as well as an image bank.
‘’EIPA seeks to engage a permanent and constructive dialogue with the written, audio-visual and internet media, and to provide accurate and informative information to ensure greater insight and knowledge in European reporting concerning the complexities and the challenges relating to Israel and the broader Middle East.’’
The press trip is organized by EIPA in partnership with the European Jewish Association (EJA), a Brussels-based umbrella group active in various European domains including media, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), the leading environmental organization in Israel, the World Forum of Russian-speaking Jewry (WFRJ), an organization representing millions of Russian-speaking Jews in support of Israel, and ‘Face of Israel’, an independent body active in public diplomacy.
‘’We are very happy to assist EIPA in making this press trip possible. It’s part of our role to promote better understanding and tolerance between the European nations and the Jewish people and Israel, especially in these times of growing hatred incitement and delegitimization campaigns,’’ says EJA head Menachem Margolin.