The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has created headaches for AU students planning to study abroad in Israel.
Although a cease-fire was declared Sunday, the conflict has caused some of the students who intend to study in Israel to have second thoughts.
"I was really worried when the conflict first started, and for a while my parents and I talked about whether I should postpone my study abroad," said Rachel Miller, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences who is heading to Israel next week to study at Tel Aviv University.
Five AU students are studying abroad in Israel this semester, according to AU Abroad Director Sara Dumont. Two are studying at Tel Aviv University and three are studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, she said in an e-mail.
A sixth student, Alli Gold, was also planning to study abroad in Israel this semester. Gold, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, postponed her study abroad after Ben-Gurion University in Beersheva was temporary closed due to rocket fire and the program moved elsewhere.
Carolyn Browender, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, is studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
"I'm not sure if I would have applied to this particular program had I known this would happen," according to a Facebook message from Browender, who is currently in Jerusalem. "That said, Israel is always kind of an iffy place, as far as war and conflict is concerned, so I probably would have, as Jerusalem is not in an at-risk area currently."
Browender said she intends to stay away from the Gaza Strip during the current situation.
"There's a trip being organized to do some volunteering in Sderot, an Israeli village less than a mile outside Gaza that has been hit by a lot of rocket fire. While it sounds like a really interesting experience, I really don't want to put myself at risk."
Both Browender and Miller said AU Abroad had not contacted them about the situation in the Gaza Strip for safety tips.
"I'm a little irritated that they haven't contacted me, though, because I think that they should," Miller said.
AU Abroad gives safety information to all students who study abroad, Dumont said in the e-mail.
"We do provide extensive information and advice regarding health and safety to all our students studying abroad, in writing, on our Web site and in personal advising and pre-departure orientation sessions," she said in the e-mail.
The partner universities in Israel also provided safety information to students, Dumont said in the e-mail.
AU Abroad performs risk-assessment reviews of each program and only administers programs considered safe, according to the program's Web site.
Although the cease-fire has temporarily brought an end to some of the violence, students studying abroad in Israel have mixed opinions about whether it will last the length of the semester. Browender and Miller said they think they will be safe.
"Everyone told me that Tel Aviv would be safe," said Miller. "Life goes on there."
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