KINGSTON, R.I. -- May 22, 2003 -- Two University of Rhode Island professors will travel to Israel this weekend to study the theory and practice of defending democracy against terrorism.

Marc Genest and Norman Zucker, URI political science professors, have been accepted as 2003-2004 Academic Fellows of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. The foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank based in Washington, D.C. that seeks to educate Americans about the terrorist threat to democracy. Genest and Zucker are two of 20 professors from across the United States who will participate in this fellowship.

"This is a fantastic program," said Genest, a terrorism expert, who is currently on leave from URI and serving at the Naval War College in Newport. Zucker has taught Israeli politics at URI for years.

The centerpiece of the fellowship, entitled "Defending Democracy, Defeating Terrorism," is an intensive 10-day course taught in conjunction with the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

The course of study features lectures by academics, diplomats, military and intelligence officials, and politicians from Israel, Jordan, India, Turkey and the United States. It also includes "hands on" experience through visits to military bases, police, customs, and immigration facilities, and border zones to learn the practical side of deterring and defeating terrorists.