Number of Birthright participants this winter far lower than in previous years

The number of participants in the Birthright Israel program is significantly down this winter compared to previous years, Haaretz reports, citing five officials involved in the pro-Israel initiative.

The numbers of participants who signed up for trips between December and March is down by 20-50 percent, according to the report, an unprecedented decrease.

Reasons for the decline cited in the report include the raised maximum age for participants — from 26 to 32 — lowering the urgency in signing up; the small period of time in which participants could sign up; and a growing sense of dissociation among young US Jews over Israel’s policies toward Palestinians.

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