TORONTO — Media Watch, a U.S. based organization that challenges abusive portrayals of Israel in the media, is offering North American academics a free informational trip to Israel.

Full-time teachers at universities and colleges are eligible to take part in the Faculty Fellowship Summer Institute.

The guided trip takes place from June 16 to 27. Air, room and board are provided.

Candidates must file applications by March 1.

Participants will be able to explore all facets of Israeli society, and will be hosted by Israeli academics.

They will visit Jerusalem in order to appreciate its importance to Israel and the Jewish people.

They will visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in the foothills of Jerusalem.

They will tour two of Tel Aviv’s historic neighbourhoods, Florentine and Neve Tzedek.

Participants will also meet Russian immigrants, Israeli Arabs and religious Jews, and tour historic sites in the Galile.

To better understand Israel’s economy, they will be given a tour of the Tefen Industrial Park, which is renowned for its high quality high-tech products.

They will also meet with leaders of renewable energy companies.

The politics of the Middle East will figure heavily in the program.

Participants will be taken to settlements that have been bombarded by Palestinian Qassam rockets for the past seven years.

They will meet some of Israel’s leading Arab affairs writers and visit an air force base, the security barrier and northern Israel.

They will learn about Israeli culture by talking to filmmakers, visiting the Suzanne Dalal Center in Tel Aviv and  spending an evening listening to Israeli music with Middle Eastern roots.

To gain an insight into Israel’s advancements in science and its commitment to democracy, they will meet scientists, engineers, technologists, government officials, parliamentarians, political activists and commentators representing different points of view.

Academics who wish to apply for the trip should click on www.FF2Israel.org.