Nakba 75 - ICAHD's new film, photos & recordings Demo photos: Stephen Sizer. Members of ICAHD UK participated in the London demonstration to commemorate the Nakba – Linda, Sue, Clare & Simon Stephanie and Greg Addington Stephen Sizer and Nur Masalha Despite the train strikes, an estimated 10,000 people assembled in central London to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom. Demonstrators gathered near the BBC in Regent Street and marched to outside of Downing Street where speeches were held. ICAHD UK patrons, Clare Short and Nur Masalha and exec members Stephen Sizer and Norma Cohen also joined the march. Jeff Halper's May update Photo: Earlier in May Jeff met with the publisher of his new book coming out in Arabic The focus for the May update from Jeff Halper, ICAHD’s director, is the historical and geopolitical context for the Nakba. This year as it is commemorated on May 15^th it marks the 75^th anniversary of the catastrophe that befell the Palestinian people in 1948 when Palestinians were driven from their homes and more than 530 entire villages, towns and urban areas were demolished. Israel calls this its war of independence with Israel just celebrating its 75^th anniversary. What the Nakba teaches us is that Zionism was a settler colonial movement that came out of Eastern Europe with the idea of transforming Palestine exclusively into a Jewish country with no possibility of compromise with the Palestinians, giving them equal rights nor recognizing the national rights of the Palestinians. Politically, it is vital to understand that this is not a case of conflict resolution but of decolonization. Jeff explains that the Nakba cannot be reversed but it can be addressed. The refugees can be brought home and resettled in their land, reintegrated into society and a point of justice reached. This can be done through the one state solution. Watch Jeff's May update here Eitan’s personal and professional life has revolved around the elemental Nakba, and particularly how Jewish Israelis can and must deal with it. Zochrot was founded by Eitan as an Israeli organization dedicated not only to Nakba commemoration, but to educating the Israeli public over what Israel has tried to hide all these years. Politically, Zochrot also works to actually prepare for the return of the refugees. De-Colonizer is conceived as a junction between research, creativity, archiving / documentation and public discussion. It also operates Illegallery 81, an art gallery that hosts artists and performances dealing with issues of contested space. W (https://youtu.be/p1i4AdLGm44 ) atch the webinar here (https://youtu.be/p1i4AdLGm44 ) April's Demolition and Displacement Report Photo: Demolished house, Sur Bahir, East Jerusalem, 18 April 2023 Because of the Jewish religious holidays and Israel’s independence day celebrations, there were few demolitions during April, which was also Ramadan. However, Israel’s demolitions and displacements began again in May, so the respite was not for long. So far this year Israel has demolished nearly 300 Palestinian homes, schools and other structures vital for living. Government-backed extreme Israeli settlers continue to violently attack Palestinians especially those living in rural areas within Area C which Israel aims to clear to make more room for Jewish settlement expansion, all illegal under international law. Even if the Israeli army is present where settler harassment and attacks happen, it seldom intervenes to protect the Palestinians. ICAHD’s interactive maps with the locations of the demolitions are found here - Use ICAHD resources when writing to your MP and for awareness-raising in your network. The Hawiyya Dance group will participate in the very first ICAHD Benefit Concert. Join us for ICAHD's exciting Summer Benefit Concert with musicians, dancers, poets and speakers. Help raise funds for our vital work on Palestine. You are invited to attend our Summer fundraiser with inspiring performances to raise vitally needed funds for ICAHD UK. We aim to raise £10,000 so please dig deep and donate as much as you can. The evening will be compered by Norma Cohen and includes a performance by the Palestinian Dabke dance group, Hawiyya, poetry by rapper Zeynab Mufti and Jayan Eric Holmes, film extracts from 'The Wrong Sort of Jew', music from Cleo Sylvestre, Garth Hewitt, Aida Youth Centre, Bethlehem, and a short extract from a renowned documentary filmmaker recently filmed in the West Bank, There will also be contributions from ICAHD's Co-Founder and Director, Jeff Halper, ICAHD UK Director Linda Ramsden, patron Professor Avi Shlaim and Rashed Khudairy from the Jordan Valley Solidarity Campaign. The event will include an auction hosted by Clare Short, to include original works of art, ceramics, Rio Cinema tickets, meals at Cafe Palestina and a selection of books from New Beacon Bookshop and others. Further details and book your place here Benefit Copere writer/ctor NormaCohen Benefit Auctioneer Clare Short, former MP Dr Yasser Abu Jamei, Director of the GCMHP and founding member of the Palestine Global Mental Health Network is visiting London. The UKPMHN, together with the Friends of Bir Zeit University, and Birkbeck University, are arranging two public meetings to which everyone is cordially invited: Thursday 25 May at 5pm - Birkbeck University. (Chaired by Prof Jacqueline Rose) Friday 26 May at 6pm - Central London, venue to be confirmed Thursday, 24th – Sunday, 27th August – Greenbelt Festival - Details here - ICAHD UK will be at the Festival Saturday 30 September 2023 - ICAHD UK Annual Conference - Amnesty International UK, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EAhttps://www.greenbelt.org.uk/- Times and programme to be announced 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 May 2023 Action Bulletin * View ICAHD’s Nakba film * Watch Jeff Halper’s May update * See May webinar about the Nakba and decolonization * Read the April Demolition & Displacement report * Register for ICAHD benefit concert * Mark dates for your diary ICAHD commemorates the Nakba ICAHD remembers the Nakba on its 75^th anniversary by giving voice to critical Israeli Jews who speak about Zionism, the ongoing ethnic cleansing and how it is time for all Israelis and Jews to acknowledge the Nakba and take responsibility for it. View this powerful new film with Jeff Halper, Livnat Konopny, Anat Matar, Gideon Levy, Rachel Beitarie, Tom Pessah, and Haim Bresheeth. ICAHD UK participated in the the Nakba 75 demonstration in London on Saturday 13th May Members of ICAHD UK gather as they prepare to join the demonstration on 13^th May 2023 ICAHD UK's May webinar Nakba: The Struggle to Decolonize Israel As we approached the 75^th anniversary of the Nakba, ICAHD UK presented a stimulating conversation between Jeff Halper with Eitan Bronstein Aparicio and his wife Eléonore Marza Bronstein. Eitan is the founder of Zochrot and who with Eléonore currently co-direct De-Colonizer. View the April Demolition and Displacement Report here ICAHD Benefit Concert Wednesday, 14 June at 7pm (UK) On Zoom Dates for your diary Wednesday 17 May 2023 at 7.00pm - Jews for Palestine - Ireland webinar. "Shoah, Trauma and the Nakba" with Brid Keenan, Dr Ruchama Marton and Mohamed Altawil. Register by email here (mailto:jvjpireland3@gmail.com) Details of both events available soon via UK Palestine Mental Health Network Wednesday 14 June 2023 - ICAHD UK Fundraising Event. Register here (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2023-icahd-uk-benefit-concert-tickets-619857298867) 23 October - 2 November 2023 - ICAHD Extended Study Tour – Details here Many thanks for your ongong support. If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please join us (https://icahd.org/join-us/) or make a donation (https://icahd.org/donate-now/) to enable our campaign to spread at this critical time in history. — ICAHD (icahd.org) /newsletter/nakba-75-icahds-new-film-photos-recordings