Atta Jaber loses land, Webinar on settler take-over of E Jerusalem

Photo: Vegetables from Atta Jaber’s beloved field, now gone forever Actions Bulletin - May 2026 * Read - Atta Loses Last Plot of Land * Watch - Jeff Halper’s May Update * Register – Webinar on Life & Displacement in East Jerusalem * See - April’s Demolition & Displacement Report * Review – Webinar on From Gaza to Iran * March - National Demonstration Marking the Nakba – 16 May * Contact - Your MP - EDM * Come – to Greenbelt * Note - Dates for Your Diary

If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please join us to enable our vital work to continue. Atta Loses Last Plot of Land

Two JCB bulldozers arrived on Sunday, 3^rd May, as work began to clear land to widen highway 60 that goes through the Jaber family land.

Since 1998, ICAHD has told the story of Atta Jaber, the Palestinian farmer, and his family, who have struggled to stay sumud/steadfast on their land in the Baq'a Valley near Hebron, one of the most fertile areas of Palestine. Atta was born in 1962 so for most of his life he has lived under Israel’s brutal military occupation and has not known what it is like to live in freedom.

He was informed that his last piece of land was being taken to expand the settler highway. And not only his, but the land of the other Palestinians farmers, along a twelve-kilometer stretch driving through the heart of the Valley. Twelve meters will be taken on each side of the existing highway,

This video clip was captured on Sunday by ICAHD’s Jeff Halper who rushed from Jerusalem to Atta when he got the news that Israeli authorities had arrived. This is evidence that JCB bulldozers continue to be used in the Occupied Territory in violation of international law. Read the full article and donate to the Emergency Fund for the Atta Jaber family .

Atta describes the pain in his heart. He is rooted to the land but now it is being taken by the state of Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. He said that despite this loss, even if left with just one percent, they like other Palestinians, will not leave – this is their sumud. Because the sun rises each day, they have hope of a better day coming to Palestine.

When Jeff asked Atta what internationals should do, his reply was to keep active on their behalf – with the demonstrations, going to parliaments, and boycotting. Knowing what internationals are doing gives them happiness and the soul and spirit to continue. The recording ends with a call to visit Palestine – and Atta Jaber. View this video update here

Over 1,200 homes were demolished in the past five years, with an unprecedented surge following 7^th October 2023. In addition, many hundreds of Palestinians are forced into "self-demolition" to avoid heavy fines and costs.

In this webinar we will hear from the local people who face demolitions and forced displacement so Israeli settlers can move in, taking over their properties. While the eyes of the world are focussed on Iran and Lebanon, the demographics within East Jerusalem are changing at a rapid rate.

Moneer Marjeieh is a Palestinian legal researcher and human rights advocate based in East Jerusalem. He is best known for his work with the Al- Quds University Community Action Center (CAC) where he serves as the International Advocacy Coordinator. The CAC is located within the heart of in Jerusalem’s Old City. It provides support to Palestinians to access their rights and negotiate the complex bureaucratic procedures that they face under the Israeli authorities. CAC attempts to empower communities as they face violence and discrimination.

Register for this webinar here April's Demolition & Displacement Report Photo: child stands amid the rubble of her demolished house, Az Za’ayyem Bedouins, Jerusalem, 15 April 2026 – OCHA

ICAHD continues to track Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and structures vital for living. We wish we could put a face and a name to each of the innocent civilians who experience this horror that continues day after day.

We urge you to join us for our webinar on Thursday, 14th May when Palestinians from East Jerusalem speak to us about this cruel policy, how settlers threaten localities, what support is provided to the communities and what internationals can do in response.

Academic Elham Fakhro who has written about the Abraham Accords explained that leaders in the Gulf want to be near the US and so normalizing their relationship with Israel is a step towards attaining this goal.

ICAHD’s Jeff Halper supported his arguments with maps and charts and reiterated that normalization with Israel, even the possibility of it happening de-facto in the future with Iran and Syria, is the greatest threat to Palestinians.

Elham Fakhro Massoud Shadjareh Jeff Halper

Israel is annexing Atta Jaber’s land and that of thousands of other Palestinians whose plight we highlight through our Demolitions and Displacement reports and other activities. Urging MPs to sign this EDM is a strategic and easy lobbying action.

This EDM already has 84 signatures and once it reaches at least 100, there is a chance that it will be debated in parliament. Please write to you MP today

Dates for Your Diary Thursday, 14^th May – ICAHD UK webinar on Life & Displacement in East Jerusalem – 8pm (Jerusalem), 6pm (UK), 1pm (EDT)

Saturday, 16^t^h May – National Demonstration for Palestine – noon, central London. Commemorating 77 years since the Nakba.

Thursday, 27^th – Sunday, 30^th August – Greenbelt Festival – visit the ICAHD UK stall

Saturday, 17^th October – ICAHD UK Annual Conference, The Wesley Hotel, London – details to follow

From all at ICAHD UK. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israeli-Committee-Against-House-Demolitions-UK/366423593418140 Facebook https://www.twitter.com/ICAHDUK/ Twitter http://instagram.com/icahduk Instagram http://icahduk.org Website mailto:info@icahduk.org Email