ICAHD-USA 2024 Annual Report To Friends of ICAHD-USA Amplifying a critical Israeli voice in the US, opposing US government support of Israeli apartheid, supporting the One Democratic State Campaign. ICAHD.org , click the ICAHD USA tab on the far right ICAHD-USA 2024 Annual Report Dear friends of ICAHD-USA, Thank you for your generous support. We recognize that so many of you have had a longstanding relationship with Jeff and ICAHD. I am writing this on December 10, Day 430 of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza and the West Bank; also the 76th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I’ve been saying for the last 14 months that this is not merely a war against Gaza and the West Bank (as awful as that is), this is not merely a war against Palestinian culture and traditions (as terrible as that is), this is not even merely a war against the Palestinian people (as horrific as that is) – it is a war against the very idea of Palestine itself, an attempt to wipe Palestine from human memory. And all while most of the world, most religious organizations and denominations, remain either silent or complicit. And that’s true, even more, in the United States, which is not only complicit but criminally active in providing weapons and cover for Israel’s crimes against humanity. As Ramallah-based, Palestinian-American businessman, Sam Bahour, recently told me, “This is a US war.” Yet there are many churches, community organizations, Jewish and Muslim organizations in the US and globally standing in solidarity with Palestinians and other voices of conscience in Palestine and Israel. Singular among them is ICAHD, an Israeli voice of conscience not only focused on human rights, but also on civil and political rights, still standing against house demolitions and rebuilding programs, but also with a visionary political agenda – the Palestinian-led One Democratic State Campaign, with hundreds of Palestinians as co-signatories. So while our minds and hearts are rightly turned to ending the apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, ICAHD is an Israeli organization working both in the present for justice and human rights as well as looking ahead to the future to guarantee and secure civil, political, and human rights in a political framework. As one of the Co-Chairs of ICAHD-USA, I invite you to continue to stand with us and support Jeff’s and ICAHD’s work in Israel and the West Bank, as well as our work here in the US. Click HERE to contribute to the continuing work of ICAHD-USA. Again, thank you for your generosity. Michael Spath Co-Chair, ICAHD-USA board + Board Co-Chair Michael Spath is Executive Director of the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace (indianacmep.org ). + Board Co-Chair Robert Herbst has been defending WESPAC, his small community action coalition, in litigation in the federal courts in California, Illinois and Virginia and the state court in New York; WESPAC fiscally sponsors organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy. He has also been advising and representing student and faculty protesters and supporters in criminal and civil litigation in New York. + Board Treasurer Richard Platkin is active in Los Angeles Jewish Voice for Peace. JVP-LA holds webinars, direct actions, petitions local governments, holds politicians accountable, and stands in solidarity with Palestinian voices of conscience + Board member Sue Dravis is in charge of our ICAHD-USA Facebook page, is active in the Palestine Justice Network (formerly Israel Palestine Mission Network) of the Presbyterian Church USA, and participates in local demonstrations. Sue also has given presentations at Loras College and in her community on Palestine + Board member Ken Boas taught a course in Palestinian literature at Pitt; spoke at a number of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, is active in the Palestine Solidarity Committee in Pittsburgh and with the Pittsburgh BDS organization. + Board member Jennifer Loewenstein provides timely articles to 400+ people on her listserv about what's happening in Palestine, Israel and Gaza, as well as Lebanon, Hisbullah, Iran, and Syria. She has worked with DC's Institute for Public Advocacy and spoken 3-4 times weekly on radio stations in Madison, WI, New York City, and Bridgeport, CT. She is special Middle East correspondent for KPFA in San Francisco. Jennifer is also a prolific writer, contributing op-eds in Arizona and Chile, as well as in The Progressive, The Long View, Common Dreams, and in Juan Coles, Informed Comment. And she helps to organize talks with PAMA (Peter Beinart, Linda Sarsour, Daoud Kuttab, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, and Trita Parsi), Friends of Jenin Freedom Theater, JVP, and more. Finally, Jennifer remains in close contact with friends in Gaza where she has helped to provide emergency medical supplies. + Board member Thomas Abowd The following is a listing of some of our work in 2024, thanks to your generous support. + Provided our members with a weekly newsletter, sharing updates from Jeff and ICAHD, interviews and webinars, news and analyses from around the world on Palestine and Israel, focusing especially on US involvement. + Provided an active Facebook presence, sharing important articles and other information about the cause of justice and human rights in Palestine and Israel. + Contributed funding for the film Rooted in the West Bank, part of Al-Jazeera’s “Witness” Series now on YouTube, filmed and produced by Bruno Sorrentino & Uri Fruchtmann. The film is a documentary about the struggle of the Jaber family to stay on its lands. Click HERE to view Rooted in the West Bank. + Provided funding to help Palestinians rebuild their homes and other important structures on their properties, defending them against settler violence and government demolition orders. + Joined and support Apartheid Free Communities. + Partnered with other pro-Palestinian organizations in the US supporting programs, webinars, and actions. + Promoted the Palestinian-led One Democratic State Campaign – in Jeff’s writing and monthly videos, op-eds, and webinars. + Strengthened our website to reflect our global ICAHD network, with updated educational and advocacy materials. (icahd.org ) + Expanded our relationships with Palestinian partners on the ground. + Signed scores of petitions supporting ceasefire, various DC protests and demonstrations, condemning US weapons sales to Israel, political solutions, and more with the following organizations – CODEPINK, JVP, AMP, Apartheid Free Communities, FOSNA, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Samidoun, Adalah, various church denominations, and others. + Co-sponsored The Stones Cry Out Delegation: led by Co-Chair Michael Spath, 23 clergy and church leaders traveled to Palestine in February and March, then returned to Washington DC for meetings with Congress, direct actions, and an interfaith gathering (featuring Rep. Rashida Tlaib) – DC co-leaders, Doug Thorpe and Mark Braverman + Co-sponsored The Stones Cry Out in DC delegation, with Co-Chair Michael Spath, Doug Thorpe and Mark Braverman in October, meeting members of Congress; two direct actions with Eli McCarthy (Christians for Ceasefire), one at Congress and one at the offices of the Democratic National Committee; and speakers Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Josh Ruebner (IMEU), Josh Paul and Lily Greenberg Call (retired from State Department in protest), Laila El-Haddad (The Gaza Mom), Miko Peled (Dar Al-hurriya), Don Wagner, Medea Benjamin (CODEPINK), Philip Farah (PCAP), Osama Abu Irshaid (AMP), and Ariel Gold (Fellowship of Reconciliation). + Co-sponsored Indiana Center for Middle East Peace interviews with Co-Chair Michael Spath: Dr. Mustafa Barghouti; Josh Ruebner; Munther Isaac; Craig & Cindy Corrie; Jeff Halper & Bob Herbst; Lara Friedman (Foundation for Middle East Peace); Miranda Cleland (Defense for Children International); Steve Sosebee (HEAL Palestine); Archbishop Elias Chacour + Co-sponsored the following Stones Cry Out webinars, with Co-Chair Michael Spath, Doug Thorpe, and Mark Braverman: Sam Bahour (Michael Spath); Josh Ruebner (Michael Spath); Omar Haramy, Sabeel (Doug Thorpe); Rifat Kassis & Munther Isaac (Mark Braverman); Issa Amro, Friends of Hebron (Doug Thorpe); Neve Gordon, Professor of International Law & Human Rights (Mark Braverman); Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, JVP; Allison Tanner, Apartheid Free Communities; Ramna Hammamy, Unitarian Universalist Association (Michael Spath); Huwaida Arraf (Michael Spath); David Wildman, United Methodists for Kairos Response (Doug Thorpe); Mark Braverman, Kairos USA, & Jonathan Kuttab FOSNA (Doug Thorpe); Ali Abunimah, Electronic Intifada (Michael Spath) Your year-end contribution is especially welcome. You make a difference! DONATE HERE Thank you for your continuing support Follow us on Facebook Email us at: info@icahdusa.org — ICAHD (icahd.org) /news/icahd-usa-2024-annual-report