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Exploring the balance: Life and history in Israel and Palestine Quest Programme 6 – 11 June 2020
Exploring the balance: Life and history in
Israel and PalestineQuest Programme
6 – 11 June 2020
What is a Quest?A Quest offers a mix of memorable, on-the-ground activities and meetings with exceptional leaders. People who are tackling some of the toughest problems facing the world today.
We visit social enterprises, global brand names, entrepreneurs, revolutionary start-ups and buzzing communities.
We combine these visits with daily reflection sessions, to dig deep into our roles and opportunities as individuals. What’s our capacity to transform ourselves? How do the choices we make influence our physical, emotional and spiritual growth?
Out of these shared reflections come insights about our place in the world –and what we can achieve in it.
A Quest delivers an exhilarating life experience. It prompts energising - and sometimes challenging – questions, in a spirt that is open, trusting and supportive.
Why join?We know that studying global complexity isn’t enough. We need to really experience it, with our intellect and our emotion. To learn something we can’t unlearn.
A Quest stimulates all the senses. It’s a powerful way to understand the different roles we play in our lives, broaden perspectives and grasp how the world is changing.
We explore different viewpoints through memorable experiences and frank conversations. We reflect on our capacity to transform ourselves and enhance our impact – as individuals and collectively.
Participants come from all levels of all sectors – multinational firms, NGOs, tech accelerators, investors and grassroots organisers, government, the arts and academia. Each of them is looking to enhance their ability to show up at their best – at home, at work and in their communities.
The Middle East is associated with age-old conflict. Yet it’s also home to leaders who are healing divides with tenacity and compassion, and innovators who are building a new global future harnessing AI to transform business and society.
We’ll spend six days in the company of religious and secular Israelis and Palestinians – entrepreneurs, academics, tech visionaries, community leaders, artists, political figures and diplomats.
We’ll seek to understand the history of this land and its people, and the state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today. We’ll also explore the reality of daily life within each society.
This is a chance to challenge our preconceptions about others – and ourselves – and consider the subtle complexities of identity and connection.
Why Israel and Palestine?
We’ll examine the intricate balancing act between Israel and Palestine, their neighbours and the broader international community. This is a story of deeply rooted beliefs, shifting geopolitical allegiances, intangibles and absolutes.
What’s the interplay between alienation and assimilation, democracy and autocracy? Is a two-state solution attainable – or illusory?
At a time when ‘new normal’ politics are on the ascendant, what does the future hold for this extraordinary region?
Israel and Palestine: history and context
Israel, with a population of 8.5 million, recently marked its 70th anniversary. A global business success story, its experts lead the field in cyber security, robotics, mobile tech, online platforms, big data, agritech and health innovation.
We’ll experience the different cadence of life in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and explore contemporary cross-currents: secular and Orthodox, affluent and marginalised, innovative and traditional.
Palestinians share a profound sense of community. In tough circumstances, they’re building a flourishing agriculture sector and early-stage IT scene in the West Bank. The success of these sectors is testament to Palestinian versatility and creativity, despite life under occupation.
Yet Palestinians – 70% of whom are aged 29 or younger – are ready for new leadership to counter political, economic and social drift. We’ll dig deep into issues of freedom of movement, infrastructure, water, healthcare, education – and autonomy.
Israel and Palestine: daily lives
“A Quest gives you the confidence to really push the boundaries of comfort, how you
think about yourself, your role in the world and what it takes to achieve the things you
want to achieve.”
“Leaders’ Quest paved the way for an opportunity to listen deeply to one
another, and to reflect on who we are and our personal contribution to positive
change in the world.”
“The Quest has impacted every part of who I am cognitively, emotionally and
spiritually.”
What our participants say
“One of the best investments in self-development of my life.”
“The Quest was one of the most intensely instructive weeks I have spent on the planet.
The reach and access were truly exceptional… and the experiences will resonate for the rest
of my life.”
“I learned more about leadership, and about compassion, and about
compassionate leadership, than I ever thought possible in a week.”
“I gained an understanding of leadership in life as opposed to just in
business. I came to the realisation that I am only applying a small capacity of my energy and influence as a leader.”
“How has the Quest affected me? One thing is a determination to internalise the
‘Quest spirit’ of open enquiry, respectful listening, friendship and invitation to
engage.”
“I cannot recall a situation or time when I have learned so much, and enhanced my
intuition even more so, over a period of just one week.”
TimingsThe programme starts in Jerusalem (a one-hour drive from Tel Aviv airport) at 12 noon on Saturday 6 June and ends in Tel Aviv at 5 pm on Thursday 11 June 2020.
LocationsWe’ll be based in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with day trips to neighbouring places, including the West Bank.
Programme cost £7,000 GBP / $9,000 USD per participant. All inclusive with the exception of flights to and from Tel Aviv and airport transfers.
We offer some subsidised and scholarship places for leaders of non-profits. Please let us know if this is of interest to you.
To find out more about joining our Israel Palestine Quest, please contact [email protected]
Practicalities
Safety and well-beingWe place the highest priority on the security of our participants, and monitor the situation on the ground closely. We will adapt our itinerary if required. This is a fascinating region to visit and we look forward to having you with us!
How long have you worked in the region?Leaders’ Quest has been working in Israel and Palestine for more than a decade, and has built deep relationships with the local community. Our presence there is always invited and supported by community leadership.
Can I attend part of the programme only?As this is an integrated programme (and our hosts will have prepared thoroughly to meet us) participants need to attend the full Quest schedule. However, there will be breaks during each day to allow for catch up on e-mails etc.
What are the hotel, meal and ground transport arrangements?We’ll stay in comfortable, well-equipped hotels. We’ll eat in local restaurants, sometimes joined by guests. Transport will be by minibus.
Who are Leaders’ Quest?Leaders’ Quest (www.leadersquest.org) is a social enterprise with 17 years’ experience creating immersive programmes to help leaders explore critical global issues. Since 2001 we have delivered more than 300 experiential Quests in 24 countries, spanning five continents. We have worked with many global companies, as well as academic, governmental and non-profit institutions.
FAQs
