ICAHD win at EU, our Masafer Yatta interview

Photo: Some of the ICAHD UK supporters who marched in London on 9th March

Support the Fakhri Abu Diab Family

Photo: Fakhri Abu Diab in the ruins of his home. 14th February 2024 - Arab News

ICAHD is amongst the organisations raising funds to support the Fakhri Abu Diab family following the demolition of their home. In our February newsletter we carried the story of the demolition that happened on 14^th February.

When Jeff Halper got the news of the demolition happening, he rushed to the location to see Fakhri whom we have known for many years. Fakhri is the elected spokesman for the 60,000 Palestinian residents of Silwan, located in East Jerusalem just below Jerusalem’s Old City. Within Silwan is the neighbourhood of El-Bustan. Fakhri chairs the Bustan Residents’ Committee as for the last twenty years, he and his neighbours have contested the double threat of facing the demolitions of their homes to make way for a biblically themed Israeli archaeological park and Jewish settlers violently taking over their homes all with the backing of the municipality, the courts and the police. This plan would displace 1550 residents.

Fakhri believes that while the world’s eyes were on Gaza, his family’s home was demolished for political reasons. He is well known internationally including amongst the diplomatic community. The British consulate in East Jerusalem put out the statement from Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon, Head of the Middle East Desk at the FCDO, in which he wrote, “Israel’s demolition yesterday of Palestinian activist Fakhri Abu Diab’s home in Silwan, East Jerusalem, is unacceptable. I condemn this and all demolitions. Israel must halt this policy now.”

The plan is to build a small new home on a piece of land that will not carry the risk of re-demolition for the rest of his family and to retain the pre-1967 part of Fakhri’s home, making it habitable again for Fakhri from where he will continue his community work.

By Cheque to ICAHD UK and send to ICAHD UK, BM ICAHD UK, London WC1N 3XX. Enclose a note stating it is for the Fakhri Abu Diab family. A "Settler" Authority Let Loose in Masafer Yatta Photo: Nadal and Awdah arrive in England - Balfour Project

On behalf of ICAHD UK, I was invited to meet with Nidal Younis, Mayor of Masafer Yatta and head of the Masafer Yatta village council, and Awdah Al Hathaleen from Umm al Khair, who accompanied Nidal while they were in London during February. They were on a visit facilitated by the Balfour Project that included an extensive programme of meetings and lobbying of parliamentarians.

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) is known to Nidal and Awdah so we needed no introduction because for years we have highlighted Israel’s attempt to displace the Palestinians from Masafer Yatta on the grounds that the land is needed for a military base. We have always believed that Israel’s true objective is to pursue its settler colonial programme, taking as much land of historic Palestine as possible and to move in more of the Jewish population even if it violates international law.

I asked Nidal if he could speak about how life in Masafer Yatta has changed since 7^th October.

Nidal – Life in Masafer Yatta was really hard before October 7^th. In May 2022, Israel’s supreme court ruled against our ability to remain on our land, we were told that we would face imminent displacement. Thankfully, many internationals opposed this ruling, so we were not cleared all at once. But settler attacks and demolitions started happening on an average of once a week. However, since October 7^th, the attacks are now occurring two or three times per week. Our houses and structures are being demolished as well as shelters for the animals and agricultural infrastructure.

Read the full article here ICAHD Finland Win at the EU

Many congratulations to Syksy Räsänen, Chair, ICAHD Finland for this victory within the EU, even though he says that it is a partial win.

Syksy put in much effort over three years, aided by the European Committees and Associations for Palestine and the European Legal Support Center and engulfed in the EU’s bureaucracy, to achieve what he describes as a small success. In 2021, Syksy found out that an EU project led from the Helsinki University Hospital involved staff from an illegal Israeli settlement. The project leader lied about this in public and scrubbed and falsified evidence. This is against binding EU guidelines, so he made a complaint.

After a long-drawn-out process with the case going to the Ombudsman it concluded that what happened was not acceptable and has to be changed, and (this is a precedent) that parties from the settlements cannot be included in EU-funded projects even if they receive no money from it. Read the full story here (https://elsc.support/cases/accountability-for-eu-complicity-with-israeli-illegal-settlements-a-new-legal-victory-highlights-the-eu-commissions-shortcomings?fbclid=IwAR2jhqYDDalg1mJMwCIGKGTYwOllQN9MT9Mc0EgPQ8aYXs3Ezz9Upd2FAvM )

We commend Syksy for his perseverance. This is now on record!

“Your visits are a tangible expression of your commitment to stand with us, and it brings a sense of unity and support that is immeasurably valuable in these times,” so said Dima from PCC in Jerusalem, one of the hosts for the extended study tour in May.

Despite continued unrest, Palestinians are calling for internationals of courage and conviction to be with them now even during this dark time to demonstrate their solidarity. More information about the May tour is found on our website If you are interested in joining this cutting-edge tour, please contact us immediately.

You are most welcome to join with us as we raise our flags and hand out flyers to other demonstrators as our awareness-raising continues.

Nearer the time, check our website and social media platforms for the announcement of our assembly point with the Jewish bloc at the start of the march.

Visit our website for a selection of photos from the march on 9^th March in addition to a few short video interviews and film footage that was captured on the day. Support Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian Photo: Prof Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian - ICAHD

On 12^th March 2024, Israel’s Hebrew University suspended Palestinian citizen of Israel Prof Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian for condemning Israel’s genocide in Gaza on the grounds that it must “preserve a safe climate on campus”. Nadera is a widely respected academic in the fields of social work and law and a world-renowned feminist scholar whose has written about the effects on women and children who live under surveillance in a violent militarized society. For years, the university has kept a close eye on Nadera because she has been vocal about Israel’s policies of settler colonialism, racism, and cruel violations of international law. ICAHD UK profiled Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian in a webinar on settler colonialism and decolonisation .

The suspension has created outcry within Israel as well as worldwide. The Hebrew University in Jerusalem is one of Israel’s top academic institutions and prides itself in promoting diversity and inclusion. Yet without following due process, it dismissed Nadera soon after she participated in a podcast episode on Makdisi Street, in which she laid out her critical views against Zionism, Israel’s assault on Gaza, and the state’s dubious record with allegations of events of the war. To support Nadera, scholars and teachers can sign the Change.org petition .

Saturday, 30th March - National March for Palestine - London - Details to be announced nearer the time.

6 – 16 May – ICAHD Recommended Study Tour to Palestine/Israel. Details here .

Saturday, 19th October 2024 – ICAHD UK Annual Conference - from 10.00am to 4.00pm (times TBC). Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EP. Details to be announced but note the date in your diary.

4 – 14 November – ICAHD Recommended Study Tour to Palestine/Israel. Details here . Many thanks for your ongong support. If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please join 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