J Halper on ICC, Shir Hever, Day of Action, Demolitions IHL and human rights conventions, however, do not comprise a political program. Nor are they intended to. They are guidelines to good government and a just society. They had aspirations to be more than that, to be instruments in curbing major violations of international norms by governments (and in the case of the ICC by individuals as well). Thus, human rights conventions – the foundational Geneva Conventions in particular – all have tribunals of signatory countries and other instruments to ensure their enforcement. These, however, have proved useless, and are seldom employed. The ICC and the International Court of Justice in the Hague (ICJ) were intended to bolster the enforcement mechanisms, but they too have been employed primarily in cases that have no bearing on the major political powers, the most visible being the Serbs Slobodan Milošević and Radovan Karadžić, Saddam Hussein and a string of African leaders, Charles Taylor and Omar al-Bashir. But a Western leader? One of ours? And To listen to the recording of the launch of Decolonizing Israel, Liberating Palestine: Zionism, Settler Colonialism and the Case for One Democratic State go here . How Safe Are Palestinian Children? Participate in the NSPCC Day of Action - 4th March 2021 “Every child has the right to grow up safely” The NSPCC takes money from JCB, knowing that their equipment is sold to be used to demolish Palestinian homes, illegal under international law. We invite all who are concerned about child protection to join the day of action on 4th March to call on the NSPCC to stop accepting donations from JCB. With your help, we can win this! See the ICAHD UK website to find what you can do on 4th March . Five Demolitions of Humsa During February Demolitions soaring in 2021 Photo: Stop the Wall, Humsa Al Bqai’a So far during February the Bedouin community of Humsa Al Bqai’a (Khirbet Hamsa) located in the north part of the Jordan Valley has been demolished five times – on the 1^st, 8^th, 14^th, 16^th and 22nd. This is the same village that was demolished on 3 November during the largest mass demolition in the previous ten years, and when the eyes of the world were on the US Presidential election. Israel is determined to clear more parts of Area C, forcibly displacing the indigenous Palestinian population, and reserving it for Israeli use following its settler-colonial policy to take as much land as possible in historic Palestine. According to Stop the Wall, a Palestinian grassroots organisation, on 1^st February, tens of armed Israeli soldiers accompanied four British-made JCB bulldozers that reduced the entire village of Humsa to rubble. While Palestinians were trying to rebuild their demolished community, the Israeli army arrived. They confiscated the building materials and demolished the tents provided to the residents of Humsa from the International Red Cross. After each subsequent demolition, humanitarian aid was provided, including from the EU and UK, but the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) continued to return with bulldozers causing more destruction and with the aid confiscated. Read full article here Please spread awareness where you live and write to your MP. Participate in our campaign against the use of British-made JCB bulldozers in demolishing Palestinian homes. Information and guidance are provided on the ICAHD website. Watch Recording of Webinar - 'Institutionalized Discrimination of Palestinians in East Jerusalem (24 February 2021) At this event Dr Meir Margalit shared insights from his book, City of Jerusalem: the Israeli Occupation and Municipal Subjugation of Palestinian Jerusalemites. based on what he learned when he served on the Jerusalem Municipality under Mayor Nir Barakat. Meir discussed how the city subjugated the rights of Palestinians and used language and policies that hide the reality that it has destroyed the very essence of Jerusalem being the inclusive home for Muslims, Christians, and Jews – people representing the three monotheistic faiths. Dr Munir Nuseibah, human rights lawyer and academic at Al Quds University spoke about the support that is given to Palestinians who are threatened with demolitions, displacement and forced eviction both within Jerusalem’s Old City and for the other Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem, all of which face discriminatory policies. These Palestinians are not the responsibility of the Palestine Authority nor are they full citizens of the Israeli state. They are residents of Jerusalem with limited rights and with most being from families that have lived in Jerusalem for generations. Watch the recording of the Webinar via this link . I was actually born in West Jerusalem and lived there most of my life. My family is very conscious of its privileged status in Israel, ticking all the boxes for secular Ashkenazi Jews. My father teaches Hebrew literature and Jewish studies in Yale University, but as I grew up he taught at the Hebrew University and Tel-Aviv University. My mother (now retired) published information brochures for the government. Both my parents are politically active and taught me to think critically and ask questions. During the Oslo negotiations family dinners were like political seminars. 2 What was your position when it came to serving in the Israeli army? Despite my critical opinions, it wasn’t easy for me to decide to evade military service. In my (very elitist) high school I was the only one of my age group who openly spoke about my doubts regarding the military. I decided to try to find a way to do military service without serving in the occupied territory, and without having a combat role. There was a loophole at the time, that by volunteering to do social work for two extra years, I could serve as a teacher-soldier. I had to first do one year of volunteer work (thereby postponing the conscription by a year), which I gladly did – and lived for a year in a commune in Sderot, right next to Gaza. In that year I had the opportunity to leave my upper-middle-class bubble for a bit and realized that there really was no reason for me to join the military in any kind of role. I took the easy way out: pretended to be crazy and was immediately exempt. Many friends that I made after that have taken the harder path, by refusing to serve and being Wednesday, 17^th March at 5pm – ICAHD UK webinar Critical Young Israelis Speak About the Future with Uri Agnon, Antalya Ben-Abba and Haggai Matar. Register here . Many thanks for your ongoing support. If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please consider joining us 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 February 2021 Newsletter * Jeff Halper on the International Criminal Court * NSPCC Day of Action – 4^th March * Five Demolitions of Humsa during February * Webinar recording of Discrimination in East Jerusalem * Interview with Dr Shir Hever, economist * Dates for Your Diary The Limits of International Law and Human Rights by Jeff Halper The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that Palestine in fact constitutes a state actor entitled to bring charges of war crimes against Israeli political and military leaders, and that the ICC in fact has jurisdiction, will not be a game-changer. True, it is a good thing that Israel is held accountable for violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and its crimes against the Palestinian people, and that such an action, not to say conviction, carries symbolic importance, especially to Israel’s carefully cultivated image as a peace-seeking, liberal democracy. But it also shows the limits of what is called the “human rights approach” to politics, something that has gained traction among Palestinian activists as a political solution seems to fade. “We don’t care if it’s two states, one state or ten states,” goes the refrain, “as long as we get our human rights.” Jewish Israelis to boot?! Please.… Read more... Spread awareness! Who could you send a copy of Jeff’s book to – your MP, leaders of your local PSC or peace group, religious leaders? Order the book from ICAHD UK here (https://icahd.org/product/decolonizing-israel-liberating-palestine/) to receive a discount on the Recommended Retail Price. … say the NSPCC, in advertising their 4th March conference: HowSafe2021 Every child? Including Palestinian children, right? Apparently not. ICAHD UK Interview with Dr Shir Hever Independent economic researcher, author, journalist at the Real News Network 1 Our paths first crossed in 2007 when I heard you speak at a meeting in West Jerusalem. At the time, you were with the Alternative Information Centre (AIC), an NGO that provides insight into what is happening within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. You were introduced as an Israeli who was studying the cost of its occupation to Israel. Tell us a little about your background. imprisoned for extensive periods of time as conscientious objectors. Because of my respect for these friends, it’s important for me to stress that I took the easy way out. Read more... ICAHD UK Webinar: Critical Young Israelis Speak About the Future Wednesday 17th March at 5.00pm (UK time) Photo: Free Jerusalem - Demonstration Uri Agnon, Atalya Ben-Abba and Haggai Matar describe what motivated them to refuse to serve in the Israeli army and the consequences following this decision. What is their current activism and are they reaching out to their peers and others within Israeli society? What are their views on the forthcoming election? Does their choice of profession provide an opportunity for them to express their political views? What is their vision for the future and how do they think it can be achieved? Register here (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtdOyrrj4uGdZconitBOgVLAMSlXZGF1Tq) Dates for Your Diary Sunday, 28^th February at 4pm - NSPCC’s acceptance of tarnished money from JCB whose bulldozers demolish Palestinian homes – Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign webinar that features Linda Ramsden, Director, ICAHD UK in conversation with Mick Napier. Register here (https://www.facebook.com/events/749707178985062/) Tuesday, 2^nd March at 7pm – One Democratic State Between the River and the Sea – Indiana Center for Middle East Peace webinar with Dr Leila Farsakh and Dr Jeff Halper. Register here Thursday, 4^th March – NSPCC Day of Action. Details here (https://icahd.org/2021/02/12/how-safe-are-palestinian-children-nspcc-day-of-action-4-march-2021/) Saturday, 6^th March at 4pm - Stop the JNF Webinar: Michael Fischbach: 'Palestinian Refugee Property: Restitution and Claims for Compensation'. Register here Saturday 6th March at 3.45pm - UK Palestine Mental Health Network's Cafe Palestine - Children behind bars: Palestinian Child Prisoners . Join the webinar via this link (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87912305143?pwd=ekgyVUt3UG94SSszYmFLVXBkY2RPQT09) — ICAHD (icahd.org) /newsletter/j-halper-on-icc-shir-hever-day-of-action-demolitions