May 2021 Newsletter * Jeff Halper’s new article addresses Israel’s settler colonialism and recent events. Will Palestinians become masters of their own fate? * Where Do We Go from Here? – our latest webinar recording in response to the outbreak of violence in May * Sanctions on Israel - debate in parliament set for 14th June * June’s webinar is 'No More Status Quo: End Israeli Demolitions & Displacements Now'. Joined by our partners as we ramp up our campaign. * Dates for your diary
The Palestinian Struggle with Erasure and Instrumentality
Zionism has always sought to both erase and instrumentalize Palestinians. That dual aim lies at the heart of the events of the past several weeks.
Since its inception as a settler colonial movement in the late 19^th century, Zionism has relentlessly pursued a campaign to erase the Palestinian presence in Palestine. It has done so by manipulating the resistance generated by that campaign among Palestinians to its own ends, by instrumentalizing Palestinian resistance to de-politicize it and make it appear nothing but criminalized terror.
A key element of settler colonialism, in the famous phrase of the Australian anthropologist Patrick Wolfe, is the elimination of the indigenous people in the lands coveted by the settlers. Although this suggests their physical elimination – which usually happens at least partially – it can take different forms: cultural as well as physical genocide, displacement, marginalization, ghettoization or, when they have ceased being a demographic or political threat, assimilation. They might even be offered some form of symbolic self-determination. Whatever works. I use the term “erasure.” More nuanced, it covers all strategies of removing the indigenous presence, political, legal, physical and cultural. Read more here . Where Do We Go from Here?
Write to your MP requesting that he/she attend the debate because the UK must move from words of condemnation to actions that call Israel to account. Watch the debate on the BBC parliamentary channel. On Wednesday 19 May, an hour was set aside for MPs asked the Government about the UK Government’s efforts to secure a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
You can watch the session and the Government's response on Parliament TV:
You can read the question and the Government's response on the Hansard website:
Wednesday, 2^nd June at 11am – Protest outside the JCB world headquarters, Rocester, Staffordshire. Coaches will be leaving Derby from Grove St car park (off Normanton Road) at 10.00. Organised by Derby Palestine Solidarity Campaign & Derby United for Palestine. For information contact unitedwithpalestinederby@gmail.com
Wednesday, 23 June at 5pm (UK) – ICAHD UK webinar ‘No More Status Quo: End Israeli demolitions and Displacement Now with partner organisations. 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
The recording of our May webinar
The ground has shifted in Palestine/Israel! Catch up on this recording of the ICAHD UK May webinar that featured Dr Munir Nuseibah, human rights lawyer and academic at Al Quds University, Jerusalem, and Dr Jeff Halper, academic, author and ICAHD’s Director. They began by providing an overview of the events that led up to Hamas sending rockets from Gaza on 10^th May which sparked Israel’s ‘Operation Guardian of the Walls’. Insight was provided about how these eleven days in May have united the Palestinians in ways not seen since the First Intifada and with Palestinians now declaring that they will not return to what had become the status quo. Perspectives were shared on where things might go from here and there was discussion on ways for international civil society to respond as it demonstrates solidarity with the Palestinian people and to ensure that our voices are heard by people and governments. View the recording here (https://vimeo.com/554631497/d00a6c7dc9) .
Sanctions on Israel to be discussed in parliament
More than 383,000 people have signed the petition calling for the British government to introduce sanctions against Israel, including all trade and in particular arms. Because of the massive response, the government is going to debate this petition on 14^th June. If you haven’t already signed the petition, do so now here (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/585314?fbclid=IwAR3212Hp9H4_FYNVc0gxk7qC6EXuzZp5n60UHh0TahKK9h7_uTEbjmJieCA) .
ICAHD UK June Webinar:
No More Status Quo: End Israeli Demolitions and Displacement Now Wednesday, 23rd June 2021 at 5.00pm (UK), 7pm (Jerusalem) Working in partnership to ramp up our campaign to end the demolition of Palestinian homes This is the third in our series of webinars in which we join with our partner organisations to present progress in our campaigns against house demolitions and the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land.
Speakers will include:
Annie O’Gara and Sharen Green: Stop the JNF and Protecting Palestinian families Hilary Smith and Tom Anderson: Stop the Demolitions Teresa Bailey: UK Palestine Mental Health Network Linda Ramsden: Director ICAHD UK Chair: Dr Monica Wusteman, ICAHD UK Full publicity and registration are available here (https://icahd.org/2021/05/28/icahd-uk-webinar-no-more-status-quo-end-israeli-demolitions-and-displacement-now-wed-23-june-2021-at-5-00pm-uk-time/) .
Dates for Your Diary
Saturday, 29 May at 3.45 (UK) – Café Palestine (UK Palestine Mental Health Network) ‘The Unity Intifada’: reflections and prospects with Prof Mazin Qumsiyeh from Bethlehem. Join the webinar here (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81414708385?pwd=L0hSZmRjYmRxc0FRc1hzT08rcVBhZz09)