Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate, professional, retiree, or simply someone interested in political history, human rights, or Palestinian refugees, the Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program is tailored to your interests. It’s designed for those seeking to understand the current situation in the region. You will hear the opinions of everyday people and grasp the effects of the conflict firsthand. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain insider knowledge beyond the headlines.
In particular, if you’re a student of humanities, political sciences, or Middle Eastern studies and looking to frame your knowledge within a cultural context, this internship program in Palestine is for you! You will explore the occupation in the West Bank as well as meet Palestinian civilians. Additionally, will meet local human rights activists and families who are subject to Israeli military law.
In addition to these great opportunities, you will take Arabic language courses tailored to your level. You’ll also be able to immerse yourself in your surroundings by chatting with local Palestinians, ordering food in restaurants, and more. Therefore, this program suits those seeking to enhance their knowledge of Arabic. Additionally, it’s beneficial for those wanting to experience cultural immersion and conducting political research.
Looking for Summer Internships?
Intern in Palestine works with and is supported by the Palestinian Educational Authority. This means that university credits are available for many of its summer internship programs. 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 summer internship is ideal for students who are seeking a unique, hands-on experience.
Community-Based Outreach Activities
Designed to increase your knowledge of the conflict, you will act as a cultural ambassador for your country. You will do this by spearheading community outreach programs for cross-cultural communication. For example, you will visit Palestinian refugee camps and discuss the geopolitical circumstances of Palestine with local politicians and activists.
Examples of outreach activities in Hebron, Palestine include organizing educational workshops, CV and employment workshops, and computer programming workshops. Furthermore, we are flexible and are happy to help you design and deliver a workshop for any skill you’d like to teach.
Moreover, in Hebron, you can organize community sporting events, informational cultural presentations, and others of your choice. But don’t worry, you won’t have to go through it alone. You will work with local Palestinians to enact these programs and gain sources of inspiration. The sky’s the limit at Intern In Palestine!
What You Will Contribute
As an intern in the Palestine and Israel in Context Internship Program, you will be studying the issues at hand. Additionally, you will work with us to create constructive programs geared towards benefiting members of the Palestinian community. For example, you could design workshops that address fundamental cultural differences.
At Intern In Palestine, we want to invite people from around the world to come to Palestine and utilize their expertise to help the people of Hebron.
Benefits of interning in Hebron, Palestine:
- 12 hours of Arabic lessons for each month you intern
- Accommodation with a Palestinian host family or a shared flat
- Breakfast with other participants (6 times a week)
- Pre-departure and support during your time in Palestine
- Visits to various sites in the city of Hebron (including refugee camps, the old city, different factories, etc.)
- Understanding of Palestinian politics and the experience of occupation in the West Bank
- Getting to know the human rights situation and helping the Palestinian refugees.
- Engagement in educational, social, and community activities
- Palestinian hospitality and a pleasant climate
- Living and gaining impressions from one of the most politically divisive and ambivalent regions of the Middle East
- The opportunity to visit unique tourist attractions with a native perspective – including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin, and the Dead Sea in Jericho
- Visiting nearby cities both nationally and internationally such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth
- Help from well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers with excellent educational backgrounds
- A certificate upon completion
Schedule For Interns
You will be expected to work approximately 30 hours a week, from around 9 am until 5 pm, from Saturday to Thursday. One of your days off will be Friday and another day of your choice.
Every morning, interns start the day with breakfast at Intern In Palestine. Palestinian teachers, volunteers from other programs, and the directors of the center share breakfast together. This offers you exposure to traditional Palestinian foods such as labneh and the opportunity to further practice your Arabic. From here, you will have the opportunity to go on sightseeing trips in Hebron that are coordinated by the Intern In Palestine alongside your program’s commitments. Evenings are typically free, although we will organize occasional optional activities as part of our commitment to showcasing Palestine’s culture.
In addition to your work on your program, you will also have your Arabic class schedule and time to prepare for any workshops that you oversee. This is alongside your free time, where you are welcome to undertake excursions to other cities.
Indeed, you may be surprised by how fast your schedule will fill up and how quickly your time will fly!
Who Can Participate?
Intern In Palestine does not discriminate on any basis. This includes nationality, ethnicity, religious standing, gender, sexual orientation, or any other discernable means. Furthermore, we have a long history of welcoming people from around the globe including 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.
Requirements for Participants:
- Colloquial in either Arabic or English
- Between the ages of 18 and 75 (unless granted special permission by the Center’s director)
- A positive attitude and an eagerness and openness to learn
General Program Overview:
| Place of Internship Program | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Fees (Per Week) | 300 Euros per week |
| Age | 18-75 |
| Duration | 1 – 13 weeks |
| Internship Program Focus | The Politics of Palestine and Israel Israel and Palestine Case Politics and History of Palestine Human Rights in the West Bank |
| Perfect for Anyone Interested in | Middle Eastern studies Conflict and refugee studies Politics in the West Bank Human Rights in West Bank |
| Number of Participants | Varied (3-6) |
| Expected Working Hours | 30 hours per week |
| Starting/Ending Dates | Flexible – Anytime |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| University Credit | Available |
| Program Language | English |
Intern in Palestine prices competitively with other programs at 250 Euros a week. Program costs cover language courses, housing, complimentary breakfast each day the participant is at the center, operating costs, and group excursions into Hebron. The program prices listed on this webpage are the complete and final cost students will pay. There are no other additional or hidden fees applied to these programs.
A Flexible Program
Intern In Palestine in Hebron will work with you to shape this internship position to suit your experience and skills. Since we are very flexible, you can freely choose what kind of activities and workshops you would like to implement during your time with us. You can intern anywhere between 1-13 weeks.
Program Accommodation
During your time in Hebron, Palestine, you will have the opportunity to reside with a Palestinian host family. This gives you the valuable chance to immerse yourself completely in the Arabic language as well as to have a rare look into Palestinian culture and life. This means taking part in family meals, witnessing and attending Palestinian cultural events, and seeing daily life.
However, if a host family is unavailable (which will only apply to male participants), there is the option to reside in a shared flat or dorm in the city center. Whichever case, you will have plenty of opportunities outside of your time with the center to immerse yourselves completely in Palestinian culture.
What Language Is The Program Run In?
The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship is geared toward English speakers. However, for the sake of immersion, we use less English in the classroom at higher course levels. Furthermore, when navigating through Hebron, you will need to utilize your Arabic skills to the best of your ability. This creates a fully immersive experience.
Arabic Classes For Interns
All of our international volunteers and interns receive 3 hours of Arabic class per week with an experienced and knowledgeable Palestinian teacher. Additionally, there are plenty of chances to meet many people in Palestine. This will allow you to learn and practice your Arabic skills further. Moreover, you can freely choose what dialect of Arabic you would like to learn from the following list:
- Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
- Colloquial Palestinian Arabic
- Colloquial Shami/Levantine Arabic (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine)
- A mixed program between MSA and colloquial dialects
If you are unsure which dialect to study, we can guide you and help you choose the one most appropriate for your needs.
Awards & Recognitions
Intern in Palestine has welcomed people from 40 different countries since 2011. For our influence on foreign visitors, we got our inaugural “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” in 2019. Most recently, we were selected as one of the “Best Places to Teach Abroad, Top Spots for Volunteering Abroad, Greatest Language Schools, and Best Internship Abroad Providers of 2023” by Go Overseas. Connecting, educating, and advancing people within the local and global communities continues to be our mission.
- +740 reviews (94%) on gooverseas.com
- +120 reviews (96%) on goabroad.com
- Video testimonials
The Excellence Center in Palestine is well-known for its cultural immersion, welcoming staff and environment, and dedication to debunking myths about Palestine and Palestinians. If you are interested in Palestinian culture and want to visit the West Bank, please read our program reviews to see whether Internship in Palestine is the right organization for you.
Traveling To And From Hebron And The West Bank
Traveling to Intern in Palestine’s center in Hebron might seem challenging, but we’re here to make it easier for you. We’ve compiled valuable resources to assist you in reaching Hebron with convenience, safety, and comfort of mind.
To prepare for your journey to the West Bank, explore the articles below. These resources provide insights into topics like air travel to Palestine, transportation options to reach Hebron, and taxi services in both Israel and Palestine.
- How to fly to Palestine
- How to get to Hebron, Palestine
- Planning your trip to Palestine
- How to get from the Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) to Hebron
If you have any further inquiries about traveling to Palestine, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Our contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.
Flying to Palestine
The easiest way to get to Intern In Palestine is to fly to:
- Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport in Israel. It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to the Intern In Palestine via shared taxi.
OR:
- Flying to Eilat airport in the south of Israel and then traveling by shuttle or by taking a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron. However, the duration of the trip can last between six and seven hours.
- Flying to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, and then crossing the border to Palestine. However, this takes more time and is more expensive.
How Do I Get A Visa To Visit Palestine?
Most of our international participants get a tourist visa for three months when they fly to Israeli airports or cross from Jordan to the West Bank.
Generally, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans to enter Palestine. However, please refer to the visa exemption agreement for further information. Upon your arrival at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days. This is sufficient for participation in Intern In Palestine’s programs and to enable you to travel around Palestine and Israel easily.
Tel Aviv Airport Pickups
The Intern In Palestine staff can organize a taxi to pick you up at Ben Gurion Airport and take you straight to Hebron and the Center. This is the easiest and fastest way (about an hour, 60 km/37 miles) to get to us.
Additional fees apply and the trip costs about 160 Euro. Please us if you are interested in this option.
Safety Of Our Volunteers And Interns
The region of Palestine is perpetually unstable. While there is always unrest and war, the situation sometimes becomes more volatile. Nonetheless, each year millions of tourists visit Palestine and the West Bank, including Hebron, and many other cities without any safety issues. Palestinians in general are a welcoming and hospitable people and they recognize the politics of a country may differ from its people.
Since its formation in 2011, the Excellence Center has welcomed over 1,000 international visitors. These visitors have lived and worked in Hebron for weeks or months at a time. Overall, they never faced any threats or safety issues while in Hebron or the West Bank in general.
Moreover, Intern in Palestine is situated in an area of Hebron which is under the Palestinian Authority and in the heart of the city. Our Palestinian host families and the male dorms are located near the Intern In Palestine as well.
Related Volunteer Programs
However, if this program is not for you (or you’d like to try something new instead), we run a wide range of volunteer projects at the Excellence Center. Covering a variety of subjects, whether you have interests or expertise in arts, sports, refugee care, law, education, environmental and humanitarian issues. You can certainly find a volunteering program in which you can flourish and greatly contribute.
Summary
The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program in the city of Hebron, West Bank is for anyone who is looking to put their foot through the door of Palestinian community development. It’s for those interested in diplomacy, human rights, Palestinian refugees, and political science. If you are looking to make a difference and be open to new experiences and cultural immersion, this internship program in Palestine is for you!
How To Apply
If you are interested in participating in our Israeli–Palestinian conflict program, please, write to us at info@ecpalestine.org and CC Mr. Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org. We aim to respond to your initial inquiry 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 on-boarding process.
