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Birthwrong: meet the pranksters celebrating the Jewish diaspora

Discovering a Jewish history that's about more than oppression and genocide.

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Antifascist graffiti on the walls of Marinaleda, a communist village.
Antifascist graffiti on the walls of Marinaleda, a communist village.

Antifascist graffiti on the walls of Marinaleda, a communist village in Andalusia.

Every summer, young Jewish people from around the world go on a free holiday to Israel. Run by a company called 'Taglit-Birthright', the tours aim to “strengthen Jewish identity, Jewish communities and solidarity with Israel”.

The 10-day trips are funded by the Israeli government and international donors, and have been criticized for promoting a biased view of Israel, ignoring the state's complex history and ongoing human rights abuses. Several alternative tours now exist, offering trips to the West Bank and meetings with Palestinian activists.