Study Abroad Programs in Israel

Chameleon offers study abroad programs in Israel that specifically cater to Criminal Justice college students and those engaged in Homeland Security studies

Our programs enrich a student’s academic experience and enhance their educational, career and life goals. They are geared towards closing the knowledge gap between what students hear in classrooms and read in texts versus what they can see and experience for themselves, on the ground. Here is a description of past programs delivered & a schedule/curriculum that can be fully customized.

Study Abroad

Who Should Attend?   Students in any of the following academic programs:

  • Homeland Security
  • Intelligence Studies
  • Global Security
  • Criminal Justice
  • Security Management
  • Political Science

College Groups - Instructors join for FREE!

One designated college instructor or representative will receive free seminar registration for groups larger than 15 students.  Contact us for more information about this offer.

Length – one full week

Registration Fees Include:

Hotel accommodations for 7 nights (double occupancy)

  • Two daily meals: breakfast and lunch
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • Daily instruction and all presentations
  • Site entrance fees
  • Study materials
  • First class private coach (bus)
  • Dedicated security for the group
  • Each student receives a tour dossier, Chameleon hat and certificate

Airfare and flight booking is the responsibility of the students, instructors and/or college.

COURSE OVERVIEW - AGENDA

The instructors for this course bring decades-long Israeli experience in security operations, counter-terrorism, intelligence methods, Krav Maga, tactical response and security management.  Many are former special unit officers of the Israel Defense Forces and other Israeli security and intelligence agencies.

Saturday

Check-in to Tel Aviv Hotel
Reception and welcome dinner at 8:00 – 9:30PM (meet at hotel lobby)
Tel Aviv Beach

Sunday

07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast

08:30 – 10:30 Introduction to the Israeli Security Model
Presentation lead by Amotz Brandes This training module will provide students with an overview and background to the Israeli Security Model. This presentation aims to provide a methodological context for the students with regards to information they will absorb during the course and site visits. The presentation will discuss key issues that make the Israeli Security Model unique in the world to include but not be limited to: a human-centric security model, down-up decision making structure, a proactive culture and stance, a clear separation of duties between intelligence law enforcement and security, the use of Predictive Profiling and threat assessment, threat-oriented and not risk-oriented security.

security_classroom2
10:30 - 12:30 Principles of Proactive Security
Presentation lead by Amotz Brandes This is an introductory presentation that outlines for the students the fundamental elements of threat oriented security. The student will address such concept is human based security system, Predictive Profiling, Security Questioning, Bottom-up Security System and more.
security_classroom

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

14:00– 17:00 The “Arab Spring” and its Impact on the World – International and Domestic Security Threats

Presentation lead by Brig. General (Ret) Shalom Harari

International and Domestic Security Threats. Brig Gen (ret) Shalom Harari will give an overview of the geopolitics of the Middle East in the context of the “Arab Spring” and its impact on the world. He will emphasize the religious, ideological and political forces that fight for influence, territory and power in the Arab and Muslim world. Students will discuss to what extent these and other factors are important in their home countries and, how they differ.

harari talk

Monday

06:45 - 07:30 Breakfast

08:30 – 10:00 The City of Ashkelon - Civilian Preparedness and Response to Terrorism
Ashkelon, a growing city of 120,000 people is a target of frequent missile attacks from the Gaza strip, only 13km away. Students will meet with city officials to discuss how the community prepares and reacts to that constant threat. The city’s emergency and security managers will discuss the challenges of maintaining normal municipal services while operating under a severe emergency situation and will describe the relationships between the City, Army, Police and other government agencies before, during and after a terrorist attack. At the end of the presentation, the students will travel to a nearby viewpoint over the Gaza Strip where they will be briefed about border security challenges in this area.

gaza-border-300x252

10:00 – 12:30 A Tour Along the Gaza Border - lead by Brig. Gen. (ret) Shalom Harari

The group will view the security, military and intelligence arrangements along the Gaza Border. The presenter will discuss the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza and will point out the military and civilian challenges of both the Palestinian and the Israeli populations there. The group will learn about the recent military campaigns lead by the IDF again the Hamas in Gaza.

Sigint Baloon near Gaza Border

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

14:30 – 15:30 The IMI Academy - Introduction and Tour

Students will get an overview presentation of the function and capabilities of IMI Academy and the role it plays in training security professionals for a variety of governmental, non-profit and private organizations in Israel. Students will get a tour of the IMI Academy facilities including armory, classrooms and observing IMI students in the shooting ranges and Krav Maga training rooms.

IMI Krav Maga

15:30 – 17:30 The IMI Academy - The Making of an Israeli Tactical Security Officer

The strength and effectiveness of the Israeli Security model lies predominantly on its people – the security officers and lead instructors from the IMI Academy will describe the conditioning and training that tactical security officers are required to go through. They will discuss terrorist incidents in Israel and around the world in which Israeli security officers had to deal with extremely complex situations decisively and aggressively.

IMI Visit Chameleon Associates

Tuesday

07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast

09:00 – 12:00 Across Cultures and Religions – a visit to an Arab village and Mosque

The group will be hosted at an Arab Village where they will learn about Arab Muslim and Christian Communities in Israel. They will visit a Mosque to learn about Arab Muslim culture and how they see themselves in Israel as a religious and ethnic minority. The students will also visit an Arab Christian Monastery where they will learn about the history Arab Christian communities in Israel.

Abu Gosh Visit Chameleon Associates

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch – Traditional Arab hospitality in in the town of Abu Gosh

Traditional Arab Hospitality Abu Gosh Israel

13:30 – 17:00 The Latrun Armored Division Base and Memorial

The group will be hosted at the Latrun base where they will be shown an exhibit of weaponry captured by Israeli forces in its fight with terrorist organizations and neighboring enemies.

Latrun Base Visit

Wednesday

07:00 - 08:00 Breakfast

08:30 - 12:30 Intelligence Challenges for Israel - visit to the Israeli Military Headquarters in Glilot

The students will be hosted at the base where they will be shown an exhibit of weaponry and intelligence captured by Israeli forces in its fight with terrorist organizations. Brigadier General (Ret) Shalom Harari will give a presentation on the intelligence apparatus of Israel including the Mossad, Amman and Shin Bet. He will discuss the challenges facing the Israeli intelligence community in Israel, the Middle East and around the world.

Glilot Museum Visit

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 – 15:30 Securing Critical Infrastructure: The Azrieli Center

The Azrieli Mall is a complex of skyscrapers in Tel Aviv. At its base lies one of the largest shopping malls in Israel. It is connected to the Hashalom train station and is located next to Israel’s busiest freeways. Maintaining security for such a complex is a massive effort that requires proactive procedures, trained security personnel and effective use of security technology. The students will be hosted by the Mall Security Department who will present and showcase the security concept and operations at the Center.

Azrieli Center Visit

15:30 – 17:30 Security Questioning

The most useful, effective, deterring and inexpensive weapon against criminals and terrorists is the ability to ask a good question. For years, security has invested billions of dollars into hardware, weapons, technology and manpower. Armed security officers are required to undergo training for handling a gun and in shooting. Many of those officers go through numerous weeks of training to hone their tactical skills. But how many officers are trained to effectively use the one weapon readily available and that affords the most powerful impact in terms of protection? … a good question!

Security Questioning Class

19:30 Evening Tour to the Old City of Jaffa (Optional) Lead by Amotz Brandes, Director, Chameleon Associates

Jaffa is the oldest and perhaps most famous of the ports along the Israel’s coast. From Jaffa port, the Bible records that the prophet Jonah set sail for Tarshish. Some claim that Jaffa was named after Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah, who built it after the Great Flood. A Hebrew etymology indicates that the city is called Jaffa because of its beauty (yofi in Hebrew).

Jaffa Evening Tour

Thursday

07:00 - 08:00 Breakfast

10:00 – 11:30 Sea of the Galilee and Christian sites

11:30 – 13:00 Keeping Border Security in an Unstable and Volatile Environment – The Golan Heights

Attendees will visit Israel’s borders with Syria briefed on the volatile situation across the border. Students will see firsthand (and from a safe distance) the influence of the “Arab Spring” on the forces and power struggle in Syria. A historical overview will be given on the wars fought in that region and the political impact it still has on world affairs.

Golan Heights Visit

13:30 - 14:30 Lunch in a Druze Village "Majdal Shams" on the Golan Heights - the Challenges of Allegiances

Students will be introduced to the Druze culture, traditions and the unique and difficult position of the Druze whose people are spread across three countries at war with each other. The students will learn about the conflicts of allegiance between ethnicity, religion, country and family that the Druze are challenged with daily.

Druze Lunch at Magdal Shams

15:00 - 17:00  The Lebanese Border

The students will visit the town of Metula, the most Northern town in Israel, where students will see the day-to-day reality of living so close to threats posed by Hezbollah. Security officers from the town will describe the current situation on the border and in Southern Lebanon and will discuss the working collaboration between the IDF, civilian intelligence, law enforcement agencies and the local population.

Lebanon Border Picture

Friday

07:00 - 08:00 Breakfast

09:00 - 10:30 Securing Government Installations - The Israeli Parliament (The Knesset)

Government facilities serve as symbols of a country and its values, thus presenting very attractive targets to terrorists.  In Israel, the Knesset is a very powerful symbol of the democratic State of Israel.  The Knesset Guard is the security force in charge of protecting the Knesset and its elected members.  Students will learn about the politically diverse composition of Knesset members that complicates security arrangements, strategies to facilitate citizen access to the Knesset and its members, and threat assessment and security approach from the Knesset Guard Sergeant-at-Arms.

A Visit to the Knesset in israel

 10:30 - 13:30 The Geopolitical perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Site visit lead by BG (ret) Shalom Harari.  The students will tour along the 'Israeli Security Wall' that was erected between 2003 and 2005. The presenter will discuss the delicate balance of security, territory and religion that is so difficult to maintain around Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria. The tour will include visits to many contested sites such as Rachel's Tomb, the Church of the Katizma, the 1967 border line, border checkpoints along the security fence and much more.

Security Fence Israel and Palestinian Authority

13:30 - 14:30  Lunch

14:30 – 17:30 The Old City of Jerusalem

A site visit of the Via Dolorosa, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Old Market and the Jewish Quarter.

Jerusalem Old City Tour

17:30 - 18:45  Farewell Dinner 

We complete the seminar with a farewell dinner.  Students will be asked to share their lessons learned from the seminar. A certificate of completion will be distributed to students.

Farewell Israeli Dinner

Saturday

Hotel check out 11:00AM – Departure

Israel coastline from airplane