Jeff Halper August Update, Webinar Recording On 23rd August we posted Jeff’s latest update from Jerusalem. Jeff Halper's August Video Update At this time of waiting, what is the international agenda? For the last couple of weeks, Jeff, like the rest of the world, has been waiting to see whether there would be retaliation from Iran over Israel’s assassination of Ismail Haniyah in Tehran and of Fuad Shukr in Beirut which Hezbollah says it will avenge. Jeff reckons that this has not yet happened because Iran and Hezbollah want to support Hamas as a peace deal is agreed so they do not want to mess things up for Hamas. Meanwhile the genocide in Gaza continues with no let-up despite the Israeli army (Gallant) saying that the military objectives have been achieved. Jeff goes on to speak about Netanyahu’s personal objectives and that according to the speech given by Kamala Harris at the Democratic convention, there is no change in US policy. Even though the hollowness of the world that we live in has been exposed, we continue to drift without direction. However, what is strong is the arms industry which is worth more than a trillion dollars a year. Watch Jeff's August update here Before the state of Israel was established in 1948, there were around 90,000 Bedouins living in the Naqab but after the war, the state began an ongoing process of evicting the Bedouins from their dwellings. Soon only 11,000 Bedouins remained as most of the communities fled or were expelled. Nowadays, about 250,000 Bedouins reside in the Naqab area in three types of localities: 35 unrecognized villages; seven governmental planned townships; and ten newly recognized villages. All of the Bedouins face discriminatory practices but for those living in the unrecognized villages, life is harsh and tenuous. Despite the residents being citizens of the state of Israel, the government deems them “illegal” and a menace. They are denied kindergartens, schools and health clinics. There is hardly any infrastructure, including electricity, running water, trash collection, paved roads and sewage disposal systems. These villages have no representation in the different local government bodies. The central Israeli policy toward the Bedouin indigenous community in the Naqab is the demolition of their homes and infrastructure vital for living. In recent years well over 2000 structures have been demolished annually. A growing phenomenon is that Israeli authorities force the Bedouin to demolish their own home or face huge, unaffordable fines. In 2024, there has been a drastic increase of demolitions with entire villages flattened in one day. This webinar provided the latest news about what is happening in the Naqab along with insight on how the Bedouin community, along with support from critical Israeli Jews, is fighting for their right for recognition so they can live in dignity and with equality. Khalil Alamour, a teacher and lawyer by profession, is from Al-Sira, one of the unrecognized villages in the Naqab. He is an active member of the Al-Sira Community Council and a member of the Regional Council for the Unrecognized Bedouin Villages in the Negev (RCUV) and a secretariat member of the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality. Dr Yeela Raanan has spent her life promoting the rights of the residents of the Unrecognized Bedouin Villages. She is the general manager of the Regional Council for the Unrecognized Bedouin Villages (RCUV). As an academic, she has taught classes such as “Oppression as Policy” and has taught in the field of Economy and Society. RCUV map of the unrecognized villages in the Naqab/Negev . Click here to view a larger version . https://icahd.org/map-of-the-unrecognized-bedouin-villages-in-the-negev/ * The demolished village of Wadi Al-Khalil - View this short video taken when participants of ICAHD’s May study tour visited Wadi Al-Khalil in the Naqab three days after all 47 homes were demolished on 8^th May 2024 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 Watch Recording of the ICAHD UK Webinar The Plight of the Palestinians in the Unrecognized Villages in the Naqab Wednesday, 21 August With guest speakers Khalil Alamour & Yeela Raanan This webinar provided an overview of the Bedouin community's history in the Naqab (Negev) and the ongoing struggle of residents in unrecognized villages for recognition and equality at a time when demolitions are soaring. Further information may be found via these links: * Regional Council for the Unrecognized Villages in the Negev (https://www.unrecognizedvillages.org/) - See the website for a selection of photographs of the unrecognized villages and to register to receive newsletters from the RCUV. Watch recording of this webinar here Dates for your Diary Saturday, 7 September – National March for Palestine, noon, central London. More details to follow. Saturday, 19 October – ICAHD UK Annual Conference - from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EP. View details and register here. Saturday, 26 October – ICAHD UK Conference – Edinburgh – 10.30 am – 3.30 pm Quaker Meeting House, 1^st Floor, 7 Victoria Terrace, Victoria Street, Edinburgh EH1 2JL. View details and register here. (https://icahd.org/2024/08/16/icahd-uk-october-conferences-focusing-on-the-big-picture-in-palestine-israel-from-gaza-outwards/) — ICAHD (icahd.org) /newsletter/jeff-halper-august-update-webinar-recording