New York, NY, January 4, 2007 … A group of active campus leaders are in Israel for a first-hand look at the issues surrounding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and to learn about Israel's history and contemporary life.

The participants in the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Current and Future Leaders Study Mission to Israel, January 4-10, will tour Israel extensively and engage in a series of briefings with a broad spectrum of voices from Israeli and Palestinian perspectives. 

"It is our hope that these active, intelligent and informed student leaders will come away from this experience with a new insight on Israel and the region and a deeper understanding of the dynamics that have engaged and divided the Israeli and Palestinian people for so long," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

Funded by a grant from the Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, the mission is designed to give student leaders an opportunity to learn about the history of the Jewish people, the State of Israel as a modern democracy, and to get a firsthand perspective on newsmaking events in the region by traveling to religious and historic sites and hearing from decision makers. 

While in Israel, the campus leaders will meet with Israeli government officials, Palestinian representatives, university students, and working journalists, among others.

Students selected for the mission are all active in student governance on their campuses and plan for a career in politics or public service once they complete their education.  

The students are from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of California at Santa Cruz, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY), University of Florida, University of Bridgeport (CT), St. Joseph College (CT), Chapman University (CA), Boston College, Colgate University (NY), and the University of Colorado at Boulder.