J Halper news from America, attend webinar about the West Bank, sample letter for MPs

Photo: Israeli forces demolish a building in Jerusalem on 3 January 2024 [Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency]

Jeff spoke not only about Gaza but also of the suppression of the Palestinians living in the West Bank as well as within the state of Israel itself where their voices are also being silenced.

Palestinians living in the diaspora remain connected to their families on the ground however there is detachment and no united Palestinian voice who can join them together presenting a political programme to harness the great support from the world community to the Palestinian cause for justice and liberation.

The work of the Palestine Youth Movement (PYM) is trying to connect the Palestinians from the diaspora with Palestinians on the ground. Jeff brainstormed with PYM representatives on ideas for mobilization. One idea is to get a nucleus of Palestinians from around the world to come together for a week to get to know each other and to talk together on strategic ways to advance the Palestinian struggle. Watch Jeff Halper's July 2024 Update here Apartheid & Terrorism Intensify in West Bank

Photo: Demolitions in Umm al-Khair - 26 June 2024 - courtesy of Jonah Karsh

How do communities survive when confronted by one challenge after another? Who can protect them? What can the international community do to provide solidarity?

ICAHD UK is offering an opportunity to receive updates directly from people on the ground who are on the cutting edge in representing their people and working for justice.

Awdeh Al-Hathaleen, journalist and English teacher from Umm al-Khair in the South Hebron Hills. Awdeh will provide news of the home demolitions on 26^th June which displaced 40 residents. Other structures were also destroyed that day.

Guy Hirschfield, field coordinator for Torat Tzedek – Torah of Justice, and a separate project, Looking the Occupation in the Eye, that attempts to bring the reality of the Occupation to non-activist Israelis. Guy will bring information about attempts to protect the shepherding communities in E-1 and near Jericho from terrorism by extreme settlers.

Register for this webinar here ICAHD's June Demolition and Displacement Report

Photo: Demolished house. Jericho 26 June 2024. Photo by OCHA OPT

The sharp rise in demolitions in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Naqab (Negev) desert continued in June. Yet again entire villages were razed; 100 homes were demolished as well as livelihood, agricultural and WASH structures. Hundreds of people have been displaced without a way to provide for their families under the scorching sun amidst heatwaves.

The spike in demolitions is due to the plan of Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, to clear and annex more of area C in the West Bank as Israel’s Jewish settlements, illegal under international law, are expanded.

On 4^th July, Peace Now, an Israeli NGO, reported that Israel’s government has approved 5,295 new housing units as well as three new settlement outposts in the West Bank. In addition, Israel approved the largest land seizure in more than three decades. The seizure involves more than 12 sq km of land in a key corridor bordering Jordan.

In the Naqab, it is Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who is accelerating the demolitions. Demolitions have intensified in the last six months compared to 2023, when a record number of over 3,280 Bedouin structures were razed.

Israel does not recognise 35 Bedouin villages in the Naqab because the state outlined the area for agricultural purposes under Israel’s 1965 Planning and Construction Law, meaning housing construction is illegal where they are situated. Without recognition, the villages are not zoned for planning and therefore cannot receive building permits and basic utilities like access to the electrical grid and road infrastructure. This is despite having Israeli citizenship, granted to them because they stayed on their land instead of fleeing or being expelled when the state of Israel was established in 1948. Despite having Israeli citizenship, the Bedouins in the Negev have never been granted equal rights therefore they suffer from Israel’s apartheid policies. Israel’s overall plan is to forcibly displace the Bedouins to “reservations” in the Naqab.

However due to the urgent need for the UK government to end its complicity in Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, we have prepared a sample letter for you to send to your MP. Please adapt it as appropriate. The letter is found in a new section on the website which presents a summary of ICAHD’s position on Israel’s war on Gaza. Help Save Tent of Nations

Photo: Daher and Amal Nassar at Tent of Nations entrance - May 2024 visit during ICAHD's study tour

The court case was cancelled at the last minute. The Nassar family planned to prove ownership of their farm, known as Tent of Nations, in their court hearing on 2nd July however the case was cancelled the day before. With still no recognition of the family's ownership of the farm, the way is open for Israeli settlers to continue invading the farm and harassing the family. The threat of land confiscation is even more serious. The family has identified actions that internationals can take to help to save Tent of Nations. This global mobilization is vital so please do all you can to help. Click here for background information about Tent of Nations and guidance on actions to be taken (https://icahd.org/2024/06/24/help-save-tent-of-nations/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1WZjDXR8y4hxSmCmCSInRv7W63L2gnzcDFZqNpQ_J2aWavSSbarGGdvP4_aem_a3N67HSsk2nVn7mdTFXsUQ ) View Report on National March for Palestine Saturday 6th July

End the Genocide - Stop Arming Israel

Photo: ICAHD UK supporters assemble for the march

Despite the rain, on Saturday, 6^th July, 100,000 people marched through the streets of London to demonstrate their support of Palestine in the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the UK to stop arming Israel.

The march assembled in Russell Square and wove its way south along the Embankment, ending parallel to Portcullis House where a platform had been erected. It was the first march following the UK’s general election that saw the Conservative party kicked out and with Labour elected to govern. Many of the speakers reflected on how the issue of Gaza had affected the election results. The newly elected independent MPs who campaigned for justice in Palestine were celebrated as were the entrants who challenged Labour candidates and significantly reduced their support as happened with Andrew Feinstein standing against Keir Starmer and Leanne Mohammad who almost defeated Wes Streeting.

Andrew and Leanne were amongst the speakers. Some of the others included activist Mikaela Loach, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Ismail Patel, Chair of Friends of Al-Aqsa and Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK.

As always ICAHD UK supporters joined the London march. The next national march is scheduled for Saturday, 3^rd August. See more photos and video clips from the demonstration here (https://icahd.org/2024/07/08/icahd-uk-6-july-demo/ ) Dates for Your Diary

Saturday, 3 August – National March for Palestine, noon, central London. More details to follow.

Saturday, 19 October – 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 released in July.

Saturday, 26 October – ICAHD UK Conference – Edinburgh – Quaker Meeting House.

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