I spent winter break in Israel with about 18 other Penn State students. In Israel, we went to bars, cafes, clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, etc. The security infrastructure is visible; at public places, bags are checked and everyone must pass through metal detectors. When I entered Jerusalem I went through security checkpoints.

Israeli officials are aware of the need to guard against terror, and the country has a strong infrastructure that allows it to do so effectively. Domestic crime in Israel is also low; the consensus is that the people are less afraid of crime in Israel than in the U.S.

In Israel, we heard seminars and lectures about terrorism. We also heard from the former United Nations ambassador for Israel, Ariel Sharon's press secretary, a Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiator behind the Geneva Accords and a top Palestinian Arab journalist among many others. Israel has scholars from many backgrounds with very different perspectives. Students traveling there can learn about any topic, ranging from UN actions in Africa, to the effectiveness of aid to the PA, to the requirements of a democratic election and much more.

I enjoyed the trip, and I am regretful of Penn State's hypocritical policy regarding study abroad in Israel. Until recently the university sent students to Nairobi where the Department of State explicitly says not to go, and we still send students to dangerous places such as Singapore and Amman, Jordan. I hope the university will realize its folly, fix its policy and reinstate study abroad in Israel.