Demolitions in Masafer Yatta; Andrew Feinstein in ICAHD UK Webinar Join us for what should be a fascinating discussion by two people with insight and experience. Register for this webinar here . ICAHD UK is part of a large group of organisations, including PSC, unions, charities and faith groups, campaigning against the Bill. The full statement setting out the dangers of the Bill is at righttoboycott.org.uk The 2021 film Boycott details the fight in the United States against anti-boycott bills. Read review in Mondoweiss . May Demolition and Displacement Report View the full report here . Demolitions in Masafer Yatta are already happening Photo: Youth of Sumud - Khirbet Al-Fakheit demolitions on 1^st June 2022 At the beginning of May, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled to permit the forcible displacement of over 1000 residents from eight villages in the South Hebron Hills in an area identified as Masafer Yatta. Israel states it wants this land for military training, but settlers covet the land and this is part of Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population. It is unlikely that Israeli authorities will rush to demolish these communities in one horrendous event, rather little by little the demolitions will occur. ICAHD’s Demolition and Displacement report for May lists demolitions on the 11^th that happened in Firing Zone 918 – this is in Masafer Yatta. Without warning, the Israeli army arrived in the village of Khirbet Al-Fakheit where Muhammad Ayoub Abu Sabha witnessed the demolition of his property including his home, water tank, chicken coop, and sheep barn which left him and his 19 relatives homeless. The other village targeted that day was Al-Mirkez where earlier that morning two inhabited structures were demolished along with three animal shelters that has affected the lives of 18 people. Each of the families rebuilt a simple structure to rehouse them but on 1^st June, the Israeli authorities returned to demolish these family homes. The unwritten message Israel communicates is: “Get out; we will make life so miserable for you that you leave.” JCB bulldozers were used for the demolitions on both 11^th May and on 1^st June. Over the last few weeks Palestinians have gathered in Masafer Yatta to demonstrate their solidarity with the threatened villages and they have been joined by Israeli peace activists, although some of them coming by bus were stopped by Israeli authorities thus prevented from reaching the demonstrations. During the demonstrations, the protestors have been attacked by both Israeli soldiers and settlers and Israeli forces have fired sound grenades directly at them. View the ICAHD Statement condemning the ruling of the Israeli Supreme Court permititng the forcible displacement of Palestinians from their homes and lands in Masafer Yatta. Write to your MP to highlight the situation enclosing the ICAHD statement. FInd contact details for your MP here . Wednesday 15 June at 12 noon (US, Eastern)/5.00pm (UK) - ICAHD USA Webinar - Bob Herbst in conversation with Jonathan Kuttab of FOSNA. Register here Wednesday 22 June 5.00pm (UK time) - ICAHD UK Webinar - Exploring the Palestine Issue with Andrew Feinstein in conversation with Jeff Halper. Register here Wednesday 22 June 6.00pm (UK time) - Palestine Global Mental Heath Network - ACTIONS BULLETIN - June 2022 * Join the ICAHD UK Webinar on June 22^nd * Write to your MP about the threat to the Right to Boycott * Send ICAHD’s statement on Masafer Yatta to your MP if you haven’t already done so * Use the May Demolition and Displacement Report * Watch the 2021 film Boycott if it’s on near you – or ask your local cinema to show it * Mark your diary ICAHD UK Webinar Andrew Feinstein in conversation with Jeff Halper Wednesday 22 June at 5.00pm (UK) South African academic, writer and former member of the South African Parliament Andrew Feinstein will be in discussion with ICAHD’s Jeff Halper as they discuss topics such as South African apartheid, parallels with Israel including the Nation State Law, turning points in the South African liberation movement towards breaking the stranglehold of apartheid; the arms trade as a major element in supporting the economy, reasons why other governments won’t challenge and call to account. The webinar will be introduced by Norma Cohen. The Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill This Bill in the Queens’s Speech is a serious blow to civil society and local democracy. It would make it illegal for public bodies to carry out boycotts, divestments and sanctions where these are “inconsistent with official UK foreign policy”, including “the sale of goods and services from foreign countries or territories”. The bill is very clearly aimed at the BDS movement, but could also inhibit campaigns for climate and social justice. Dates for Your Diary Tuesday 14 June 6.30-8.30pm (UK time) - Amnesty International – Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians: How to Dismantle this injustice. Panel discussion, Q & A and reception with leading Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders. Amnesty International UK, Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA - details and registration here (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/israels-apartheid-against-palestinians-how-to-dismantle-this-injustice-tickets-340117168607?aff=ebdssbdestsearch) Abolishing Incarceration: Call for Immediate Release of Ahmad Manasra. Details here Wednesday 22 June 1.00pm (US, Eastern)/6.00pm (UK) - ICAHD USA Webinar - Strategies to Advance Palestinian Liberation and Solidarity in the United States Congress and Administrative Branch. Rob Herbst in conversation with Beth Miller. Register here (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUld-ioqj4uHd2VzasDR6c_UnbPPaNMyzH4%20%C2%A0) Friday, 26 – Monday 29 August – Greenbelt Festival – Jeff Halper seminar speaker and ICAHD UK will run a stall - details here Monday, 7 – Thursday, 17 November 2022 – Study tour to Palestine/Israel. For info see here (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 us (https://icahd.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a3728e1a8014d53820403ca12&id=11543a1508&e=04ebcc88fa) or make a donation (https://icahd.org/donate-now/) 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.facebook.com/pages/Israeli-Committee-Against-House-Demolitions-UK/366423593418140) https://www.twitter.com/ICAHDUK/ Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/ICAHDUK/) http://icahduk.org Website (http://icahduk.org) mailto:info@icahduk.org Email (mailto:info@icahduk.org) — ICAHD (icahd.org) /newsletter/demolitions-in-masafer-yatta-andrew-feinstein-in-icahd-uk-webinar