Jeff, Pete Seeger & ICAHD; Facts on the Ground in the West Bank; US Gaza Invasion the End of Israel?

THE REPORT

To Friends of ICAHD-USA

Amplifying a critical Israeli voice in the US, opposing US government support
of Israeli apartheid, supporting the One Democratic State Campaign.

February 18, 2025

Your must-read for understanding Israel's "matrix of control,"
critical Palestine-Israel news, cutting edge analyses,
opportunities for solidarity, and the work of ICAHD in the United States.

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First, I knew Bob and his family, as I grew up in his hometown, Hibbing, Minnesota. We weren't friends -- Bob is five years older than I am -- but his brother was in my class and I spent quite a bit of time at his house in the years when he was just becoming Bob Dylan, late '50s - early '60s, when he was in and out. And.... we were at each other's bar mitzvahs.He also came over for my HS graduation party.

More important, personally and politically, was my connection to Pete Seeger, who figures prominently in the film. Back in 2001, as the head of ICAHD (the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions), I received a letter from him. Let me share parts of its with you. "Thank you!" he writes, "for your article in Jewish Currents [on ICAHD's work in resisting Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes, including rebuilding homes with the Palestinian families as acts of political resistance). I have a small amount of money to send to ICAHD. Can you tell me where to send it?"
Then came the most meaningful part:  "In future years there should be more checks because [I am donating] the royalties to "Turn, Turn, Turn" to ICAHD.
"55% of the royalties for the song because I put the tune together and added six words ('I swear it's not too late') to the words which were written [in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8] near Jerusalem 2256 years ago....
"45% will be sent to ICAHD for at least 50 years, because the present copyright law says my publisher can collect royalties for 50 years after my death....

"I hope you all survive these dangerous times."
[signed} “Pete, 82 and crumbling,” with a hand-drawing of a banjo.
The royalties never arrived. The publisher's lawyers refused to agree that they go to a political organization abroad for all kinds of legal reasons Pete apologized for. Nonetheless, he did donate yearly to ICAHD until his death in 2014. But that's not the end of the story.
We stayed in touch and I visited him a couple times at his home in the Hudson Valley. He remained a supporter of ICAHD and helped us organize events and make useful contacts. Below is a picture of us in ICAHD shirts. The last time I met him he told me: "I support the BDS movement as much as I can. You can let my views be known."
My connection with Bob is incidental - although it was nice to see a reference to Hibbing in the film. My connection with Pete I would like to believe was more meaningful. And, as you all well know, ICAHD continues to resist the demolition of Palestinian homes even as we call in a clear, strong voice for an end to Zionist settler colonialism and the establishment of one democratic state between the River and the Sea.
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JEFF REFLECTS ON HIS FRIENDSHIP

WITH PETE SEEGER,
AND PETE'S SUPPORT OF ICAHD
I just saw the Dylan film A Complete Unknown.  Excellent acting and, of course, music, but also some personal and political links to my life that I'll just mention while the film is fresh in my mind.

Israel is establishing facts on the ground in the West Bank

At least 59 Israeli 'outposts' were established in the West Bank last year. That’s an unprecedented number.  To compare, less than seven outposts were established in the West Bank on average each year since 1996.

A US invasion of Gaza could spell Israel’s end: here’s how – analysis

Image Design: Palestine Chronicle

“Amman and Cairo fear the repercussions of Donald Trump’s plans, because they will impact them directly. In addition to this, Israel will be the one threatened the most under such a scenario. As for the US and its ability to form relationships across the region, it will be further from a Saudi-Israeli normalization deal than it has ever been.”

— ICAHD (icahd.org)
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