Local student visits Israel

Meghan Fitch

College sophomore Meghan Fitch of Thousand Oaks and 13 other students from universities across the United States recently traveled to Israel as part of a program hosted by the AntiDefamation League aimed at helping raise awareness about issues involving Israel and the Middle East.

Fitch attends Loyola Marymount University in Marina Del Rey.

"The trip challenged me to process a lot of information that is loaded with emotion and history. I had to remain skeptical while being open to the things I was experiencing," Fitch said. "It takes much longer than a 10-day trip to Israel to understand the conflict in the Middle East."

The trip was ADL's second annual Current and Future Leaders Study Mission, which is designed to educate university campus leaders about the history of the Jewish people and the state of Israel as a modern democracy. The program also provides a firsthand perspective on news-making in Palestinian-Israeli relations.

The student leaders met with Israeli government officials, Palestinian representatives, university students and working journalists, and they traveled to religious and historic sites.

One of the stops was Sderot, a city on the border of Gaza, which is bombed approximately twice a day. Houses, hotels and bus stops are all equipped with bomb shelters in case of an attack, and schools are surrounded by protective concrete walls. Fitch interviewed a resident who explained that the best way to deal with terrorism is to go on with everyday life despite living in constant fear.

"It was hard to comprehend the amount of hostility and underlying tension in places that are considered to be so holy," Fitch said. "I witnessed the ugliness of warfare; however, it confirmed my dedication to live for peace."

Fitch's interest in social justice began in a world religions course taught by Amir Hussain, associate professor of theological studies. She became aware of the interconnectedness of world religions, social justice and the importance of understanding other people and cultures.

Fitch is pursuing a bachelor's degree in political science. Her goal is to become a state senator.