Conference recordings, Right to Boycott initiative, important dates Palestinians spoke from East Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, the South Hebron Hills and from within the state of Israel. The latest updates on the situation on the ground were provided, and the harsh realities of living under a brutal military oppression were explained. Speakers described the tension about what it is like to live with the threat of having their beloved home demolished, knowing that any day their family could be split apart as they are displaced from their communities and their way of life. Examples of local resistance were given as speakers illustrated what “sumud” – steadfastness - means to Palestinians. It was emphasised that Palestinians do not have the luxury to experience post-traumatic stress because trauma remains with Palestinians their entire lives. Other speakers provided news related to ICAHD UK’s campaigns including on British-made JCB bulldozers, a company that sells its machines then used to demolish Palestinian homes. We heard about the ongoing actions of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and its subsidiaries which aggressively seek to cleanse the indigenous population from their homes and lands. Reasons were shared about why politicians cling to the two-state solution and how at the heart of it, they do not want to pay the price for stepping beyond the tool of conflict management rather than pressing for genuine resolution. Insight was also provided on Israel’s apartheid policies over the Palestinians on both sides of the divide and how Amnesty’s new report is a crucial development which adds to the symbolic victory in the Palestinians’ struggle for its basic rights. However, we live in a world where geopolitics has primacy over the international law dimension, therefore our ongoing political campaign is vital to bring about a just and sustainable peaceful resolution to Palestine/Israel. Thank you all for an exhausting and informative event which has clarified my thinking. Jackie H Conference got better and better. Great! Thank you everyone. Roger and Enid G Wanted to say how amazing the ICAHD UK conference was, looking forward to the videos. Jan B Sami Hureini (https://youtu.be/dkGj2gJXpF0 ) , Coordinator of Youth of Sumud, board member of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee and a human rights defender who has been incarcerated in an Israeli jail because of his activism. Sami described what is happening in the South Hebron Hills as it awaits the court’s decision due in the summer on clearing its communities for a closed military zone. Rashed Khudairy (https://youtu.be/kNUPF513AqM ) , Co-ordinator Jordan Valley Solidarity Campaign and member of the Popular Resistance Committee in the West Bank. Rashed described the harsh conditions in the Jordan Valley, including severe water shortages. Demolitions in March also consisted of vegetable markets. Yoa'd Ghanadry-Hakim , Clinical psychologist and certified supervisor at Palestine Counselling Centre, founder member and board member of the Palestinian Global Mental Health network. Yoa’d began by describing the meaning of “home” and then she spoke about the trauma from home demolitions and the fact that Palestinians live under constant, ongoing trauma. Umar al-Ghubari , Zochrot’s group counsellor and political educator. Umar’s PowerPoint presentation included photos, maps and charts as he described the demolitions and discrimination within the state of Israel, the history behind British Park and the ongoing work of the Jewish National Fund. Saleh Hijazi, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director of the Middle East and North Africa region. Salah spoke at the press conference in Jerusalem on the release of Amnesty’s bombshell new report, “Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime against Humanity ”. He described what has unfolded since the release of that report and he also referred to Amnesty’s earlier report “JCB Off Track”. Jeff Halper , Co-Founder and Director of ICAHD. Jeff spoke from his background as an anthropologist on how demolitions and displacement are at the core of Israel’s ongoing settler colonial policy and why the easy-way out for politicians is simply to continue with the “peace process” as they call for two-states. Richard Falk (https://youtu.be/jlEZaDBkMf4 ) , Professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University and former UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the OPT. Professor Falk closed the conference with an assessment on the current apartheid situation in Palestine/Israel. He explained that most conflicts of the last 75 years, have been won in the symbolic domain rather than on the battlefield. This is why the Palestinian struggle for basic human rights is so important. From bus boycotts against racial segregation to divestment from fossil fuel companies to arms embargoes against apartheid – boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns have been applied throughout history to put pressure and force changes to abusive, discriminatory, or illegal policies. The current UK government has been bringing in some of the most repressive legislation we’ve seen in decades. At present it is introducing new threats of legislation to stop the democratic right of campaigners from using boycott and divestment tactics which civil society must challenge. Spread the word and do not allow the government to pass this legislation unopposed. See the Right to Boycott website , read the statement that ICAHD UK has signed along with other prominent organisations. Then mobilize to spread awareness of it in the cause of justice. Extended study tours to Palestine/Israel resume This life changing experience is not to be missed Photo: Jeff Halper explains Israel’s growing facts on the ground to previous study tour participants With travel restrictions lifting following the coronavirus pandemic, plans are underway to resume the eleven-day study tour programme to Palestine/Israel because nothing compares to being there, witnessing the reality on the ground. These issue-based tours allow participants to meet local people and organisations in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and within Israel. Around thirty encounters are arranged, and daily debriefing sessions are held in the evening. Participants are immersed in this Middle Eastern experience as they visit the different geographical areas, sample the local food, and experience the rich cultural heritage. For more information see https://icahd.org/extended-study-tours/ and write to info@icahduk.org for an application form. Refugee Camp Separation Wall Jaffa Jordan Valley Hebron Palestinian embroidery The National Lobby Day for Palestine is only days away. This is your opportunity to join with others in challenging our political representatives to give the same attention to what has been happening to Palestinians over 74 years as is currently the case for the people of the Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion. Present your MP with ICAHD’s fact sheets and maps about Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and structures vital for living. Additional guidance on the lobby day can be found here . Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and structures vital for living that continues to happen both within the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the state of Israel are clear demonstrations of Israel’s apartheid policies where it has one rule for Israeli Jews and another for non-Jews. Protest Israel’s ongoing apartheid actions and the fact that last year was another record-setting year for demolitions. Contact info@icahduk.org if you would like to march with the ICAHD UK banner. Meet at outside Cafe Nero, 273 Regent Street from 11.45am-12.15pm - then join the main assembly as a bloc at Portland Place just after 12.15. Dates for Your Diary Friday, 26 – Monday 29 August – Greenbelt Festival – Jeff Halper seminar speaker and ICAHD UK will run a stall - https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/ 7–17 November 2022 – Study tour to Palestine/Israel - https://icahd.org/extended-study-tours/ Many thanks for your ongoing support. If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please consider joining usor make a donation to enable our campaign to spread at this critical time in history. 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://icahduk.org Website mailto:info@icahduk.org Email April 2022 Newsletter * ICAHD UK Annual Conference recordings * Right to Boycott initiative launched * Extended Study Tours to Palestine/Israel resume * National Palestine Demonstration * Dates for your diary ICAHD UK Annual Conference Demolition of Palestinian Homes: Israeli colonisation marches on ICAHD UK’s first attempt at holding an online conference elicited much praise from the audience as eight speakers were brought in to share their areas of expertise and activism. A few examples of feedback from conference attendees: Thank you for all the wonderful speakers that you managed to get together to give us all such an inspiring, realistic and yet somehow still surprisingly hopeful day! John and Penny L-B That was a great, very informative afternoon, thank you for organising it. Hazel C Many congrats on a super conference. An ICAHD UK landmark and a great achievement. Thank you so much for the spurt to action and the wealth of support material provided by the excellent speakers. Sue B View the recordings of these conference speakers by clicking on their name M (https://youtu.be/kezILnJ0yqs ) anal Shqa (https://youtu.be/kezILnJ0yqs ) ir (https://youtu.be/kezILnJ0yqs ) , International Advocacy Officer Stop the Wall and the International Outreach Coordinator of the Land Defense Coalition. Manal set the scene by describing the current tension in Jerusalem and then went on to describe the demolitions and evictions happening in East Jerusalem. Right to Boycott - new initiative ICAHD UK is amongst the 45 organisations that affirm that it is the right, and in fact a responsibility of public bodies to break ties with companies contributing to abuses of rights and violations of international law in occupied Palestine and anywhere else where such acts occur. Saturday 7 May - Corin Redgrave Memorial Lecture 2022 - Palestine: Bringing Down the Curtain On Apartheid at 2,00pm. Information here Sunday 8 May - Convivencia Alliance Public Launch – 2pm, The P21 Gallery, 21-27 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Advance registration required as numbers restricted. The event will be live-streamed and available on Facebook. Register here (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/convivencia-for-just-peace-in-palestine-a-public-launch-tickets-328045782767 ) Wednesday 11 May - National Lobby Day for Palestine – Houses of Parliament, London. Details here Saturday 14 May 2022 - National Demonstration and March - End Apartheid - Free Palestine - assemble 12 noon Portland Place, by the BBC, London. Contact info@icahduk.org (mailto:info@icahduk.org) if you would like to march with the ICAHD UK banner — ICAHD (icahd.org) /newsletter/conference-recordings-right-to-boycott-initiative-important-dates