Women facing eviction and demolition tell their story

Israel persists with demolitions that happen virtually daily. Palestinian homes, shops, factories, fields, and farms are being destroyed. These are all part of Israel's “mopping-up” operations as it finalizes its apartheid regime, all with the collusion of the US, Europe, the Arab states and virtually the whole international community.

While it's important to focus on Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan as well as other areas we highlight as we demonstrate our solidarity and help to grow the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture which is the need to establish an effective meta-campaign of decolonizing Palestine and establishing a single democratic state, together with the return of the refugees.

Reem Hammad, a wife, mother, and teacher, is from one of the 28 families that contests eviction from their home in Sheikh Jarrah. Amani Mousa Odeh, a wife, mother, and dentist, spoke from the Al-Bustan area in Silwan. Her home is one of the 16 currently identified for imminent demolition.

Each spoke about the history of their locality, how the proposed evictions and demolitions are being contested in the courts, what it is like for them and their families to be confronted in their streets with harassment from extreme settlers, and Israeli army and police brutality which keep them living in a state of fear, yet they continue to raise their voices, demanding their basic rights to live as other human beings.

Also speaking was ICAHD’s Jeff Halper as he addressed the bigger picture of the Judaization of East Jerusalem and he mentioned Israelis who stand in solidarity with these Palestinians, including in the courts.

Each of the speakers agreed that international civil society is their only hope. The best way to help save them from displacement is to raise awareness of their situation therefore influencing public opinion and thus governments.

The internet connection for Reem and Amani who spoke from East Jerusalem was not stable however their messages were powerful. View a recording of the webinar here .

See Amani Mousa Odeh’s film interview with the BBC here .

An updated summary about what is happening in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan can be found on the ICAHD website where there is also information on how to contact your MP about these evictions and demolitions.

Featuring:

Livnat Konopny Decleve – Israeli PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Tel Aviv University, Israel

Ilan Pappe – Israeli historian, author, director of the European Centre of Palestine Studies, University of Exeter, UK

Jeff Halper – Israeli anthropologist, author, director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions

All three speakers are members of the One Democratic State Campaign

Wednesday, 22^nd September at 5pm (UK) – ICAHD UK webinar – Israeli Dissident Voices: Breaking Away from Zionism – 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