How the Middle East is changing, new events

Photo: ICAHD UK team begins to gather for the national demonstration in March

Jeff will approach the subject from the point of view of Israel’s agenda and whether or not it is emerging stronger or weaker; Massoud, who is of Iranian origin, will focus on the impact of the war with Iran and both its own and the region’s future trajectory; while Elham will look at the implications of these wars and developments for the greater region, but with a special emphasis on the Gulf States and the normalization process.

Will a fundamentally “new” Middle East emerge, who will be the power actors and with what agendas, and can we expect changes in the direction of greater regional democracy, prosperity, peace and justice – and where will the Palestinian issue fit in – or will it be one simply continuing the repressive inequalities of today?

Elham Fakhro Research Fellow at the Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School. She has previously held academic and teaching roles at Exeter University and NYU Abu Dhabi and acted as Senior Analyst for the Gulf States at the International Crisis Group. She is the author of "The Abraham Accords: the Gulf States, Israel, and the Limits of Normalization" (Columbia University Press), a book that critically examines the Abraham Accords and their regional impact.

Massoud Shadjareh, Chair, Islamic Human Rights Commission , an independent campaign, research and advocacy NGO based in London. It struggles for justice for all peoples regardless of their racial, confessional or political background. Set up in 1997, it is a non-profit organisation with Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Massoud is Iranian by birth and studied at Berkeley University in California.

Jeff Halper, Director, ICAHD. Jeff co-founded ICAHD in 1997 along with other critical Israeli Jews. Its focus for mobilization is the demolition of Palestinian homes. ICAHD’s strap line is ‘Resisting Apartheid, Constructing a Shared Democracy in Historic Palestine. Jeff was born and brought up in Minnesota and lives in Jerusalem. He is an anthropologist, author, activist and was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Register for this webinar 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.

Another speaker to be announced. Register for this webinar here

The aim of this webinar was to help the audience understand how the United States has embraced Christian Zionism, which is an interpretation of selected Bible passages, and “end time” theology to justify what the US is doing in Israel and further afield.

Rev Dr Stephen Sizer Dr Michael Spath

As always, the ICAHD UK contingent will assemble with the Jewish bloc. Look out for more news on the ICAHD website. Do join us!

Dates for your Diary

Tuesday, 28^th April – ICAHD UK webinar on the Changing Landscape in the Middle East – 7pm (UK) 2pm (EDT)

Friday, 1^st May – ICAHD USA webinar with Jeff Halper and Sami Awad 11am (EDT) 4pm (UK). Register here

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

Saturday, 16^th May – National Demonstration for Palestine – noon, central London. Commemorating 78 years since the Nakba. More details for follow about the assembly point for ICAHD UK

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