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"A group of more than two-dozen Tri-State college students just returned from a 2-month trip to Israel, where what started out as an opportunity to learn more about the Jewish homeland turned into a first-person experience of living in a country at war.Abby Liebowitz was one of 25 local college students who returned home from Israel Thursday.Watch this storyThey were part of the Outward Israel program, which gives college kids an opportunity to live in Israel while gaining intern experience in their career fields.Liebowitz interned with a dance company, but like all the students, also learned about what it\u2019s like to live in a country in conflict.The conflict started on July 8, about halfway through their trip. Liebowitz was in Tel Aviv, and says she felt very safe, because they were given information about how to take shelter when they first arrived. The apartment she lived in had shelters on every floor.\u201CWe were all very aware of what to do in any circumstance and where to go and how to take care of ourselves,\u201D Liebowitz said.For her parents, it was a difficult time. Even with reassurances from trip organizers about safety, they also stayed in contact with Abby, too.\u201CI made sure every time a siren went off, I texted them, even though it was the middle of the night here,\u201D Liebowitz said.Her father Ned said he slept with the phone by the bed, so he could receive those late night text messages. He says he watched the news of the fighting closely, and hopes there can be some resolution.\u201CHoping that somehow peace can be achieved, somehow, but I\u2019m not sure how to do it,\u201D Ned Liebowitz said.Abby\u2019s mom is happy to have her home, and happy she got to experience Israel, even if it was under these circumstances.\u201CI missed her, I love having her home, but I\u2019m so glad she had this opportunity because it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity,\u201D Nancy Liebowitz said.Only four local kids decided to cut their stay in Israel short because of the fighting."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wlwt.com/article/tri-state-college-students-safe-at-home-after-israel-trip/3545443>