The UW-Madison senior trapped in Bethlehem is safe, UW officials said over the weekend.

Tara McKinney is on a semester abroad program studying in Brussels but was visiting Israel and then Bethlehem.

McKinney reportedly worried her family and friends when they heard she was stranded in Bethlehem?s Star Hotel with other foreigners in the middle of Palestinian-Israeli strife.

The office of Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., contacted McKinney upon request from the McKinney family and confirmed she is now safe in Brussels.

Michael Hinden, associate dean of international studies told the Capital Times that the university has found three of the four UW students studying in Jerusalem, and two of them have agreed to come home — the third is thinking about it. The university announced Wednesday that the study abroad program in Jerusalem was suspended until further notice.
The suspension, effective April 11, came after Tuesday?s U.S. State Department travel warning to Americans in Israel. The university is working with the students and their families to arrange for the students? return to the United States.
“Our top priority is the safety of our students,” said Joan Raducha, director of International Academic Programs. “After careful consideration, we felt this was the most prudent course in light of the current situation.”