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18,000 Homes Destroyed ......................... December 2007 ......................... 18,000 Families Ruined


The 18,000 Homes Campaign is continuing to provide information to an ever wider global audience. With your help the 18,000 homes banner has been placed on over 400 web sites and blogs. More than 40,000 visitors came to the ICAHD web site during November, an increase of almost 20% since the campaign began in September. Our statistics indicate that most of the new visitors had never been to ICAHD's web site before, and were being linked there through the 18,000 homes banners on other web sites.

Please continue to help ICAHD provide information about the ongoing home demolitions and the deepening occupation by placing the 18,000 Homes Banner on your personal or organizational web site or blog.

Demolition Update
During the past few weeks, even as Olmert was making pronouncements for peace in Annapolis, there were demolitions all over Jerusalem, in Wadi El-Humus, A-Zaim, and in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Watch a Video of the recent home demolition in Sur Baher.

DAILA
ICAHD's critical social & cultural center in downtown Jerusalem
Several important events were held recently at Daila. These included a lecture by the distinquished israeli political scientist, author, and former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Meron Benvenisti. The title of his lecture was The Annapolis Conference in the Shadow of the One State Reality and a podcast of his presentaion is available.

Jerusalem Dispossessed

This exhibition was produced by ICAHD and the photographers' collective ActiveStills, documenting the dispossession of indigenous Palestinians from their native city, Jerusalem, amid rapid expansion of Israeli settlements, Separation Wall and home demolitions.

The exhibition booklet is available for download on ICAHD's publications page

The exhibition was on display during November at Evergreen State College, and is available for other exhibit sponsors. For more information contact ICAHD's Advocacy Officer Angela Godfrey-Goldstein

New Booklet
'Nowhere Left to Go'

The jahalin Bedouin near Jerusalem are under sustained pressure from the Israeli authorities to to relocate outside the planned route of the Wall. The Bedouin have nowhere else to go. This booklet tells their story. Download
More information

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The Year in Review
During this 10th year of ICAHD, the organization worked hard to oppose and resist the Occupation. here are just a few of the activities:

In 2007 ICAHD:
- Witnessed and documented numerous home demolitions.
- Rebuilt more than seventy-five homes.
- Hosted the 2007 Summer rebuilding camp.
- Gave more than 30 lectures at the Daila Center.
- Conducted more than 40 Alternative tours.
- Provided legal aid to - Palestinians who had their homes demolished.
- Attended numerous international conferences.
- Published six new publications and six brochures.
- Produced three major exhibitions
- Provided information to more than 320,000. visitors to the ICAHD web site.
- Published full page newspaper adverts in NY Times and the guardian (UK).

 

 

  

Advocacy - ICAHD Tours
ICAHD has been conducting critical tours of Greater Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel for many years. Thousand of people have taken the tours including diplomats, journalists, and other visitors from abroad. The organization is now re-focusing on the Israeli public and offering tours in Hebrew and English to Israelis.

The English language tours are now scheduled to depart from Tel Aviv, Ra'anana and Jerusalem. Information, schedule, and online reservations are available at www.toursinenglish.com

Constructing Peace Campaign
bdeuin tent The Constructing Peace campaign has rebuilt seven homes during the past month, provided materials to a family to rebuild their own home, and provided an additional ten tent-structures to the Bedouin village of Twail Abu Jarwal.

A special project is being funded by ICAHD-USA to rebuild a bridge for a Bedouin family in the southern West Bank. In the valley below their home, which ICAHD rebuilt during the past month, there is a putrid stream of factory effluent. The bridge that used to cross the stream was destroyed by the Israeli military in accordance with their policy of 'encouraging' the Bedouin to leave the area. The Bedouin children have to cross the stream on their way to school. ICAHD plans to rebuild the bridge with the assistance of dozens of israeli activists.

Opportunites for Involvement in 2008
2008 marks 60 years since the state of Israel was established; it also commemorates 60 years of displacement for the Palestinian people. In this landmark year, ICAHD encourages internationals to visit Israel and the Occupied Territories to be an eye-witness to the situation on the ground, and offers unique opportunities to do this. Each spring and autumn, ICAHD facilitates ten-day study tours for people who want to observe, meet key leaders and listen to in-depth analysis on critical issues at the heart of the conflict. During the summer we offer similar activities through our rebuilding work camp, and the opportunity to participate in non-violent direct action .

2008 Summer Rebuilding Camp
Annually since 2003, ICAHD has made it possible for international and Israeli activists/volunteers to join together with the local Palestinian community in Anata - East Jerusalem, to rebuild the home of a Palestinian family whose house has been demolished by the Israeli authorities. In the summer of 2008, ICAHD will once again rebuild a Palestinian home and invites you to participate in the incredible opportunity to learn first-hand about life under Occupation. More information

Spring Study Tour
Each spring and autumn, ICAHD, in conjunction with a UK-based tour company, runs an in-depth ten-day study tour.

  • Witness the situation on the ground in Israel, Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories
  • Meet with Jews, Christians and Muslims from both sides of the divide, examining several aspects of life today
  • Gain some of the latest analysis representing a broad set of opinions – yet focussed on the forces of peace in both Palestinian and Israeli societies
  • Be guided by ICAHD staff

The next study tour is in March 2008.
More information.

ARTICLE
by Jeff Halper - ICAHD Coordinator
When the Roadmap is a One Way Street

Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper

One may well think that the struggle inside the Jewish community of Israel is between those of the political right, who want to maintain the settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank so as to "redeem" the Greater Land of Israel as a Jewish country, and those of the left who seek a two-state solution with the Palestinians and are thus willing to relinquish enough of the "territories", if not all, in order that a viable Palestinian state may emerge. . . . more

Looking ahead to 2008

The activities listed in the Year in Review section of this newsletter would not have been possible without the dedication of our colleagues at ICAHD-USA and ICAHD-UK, and the support of thousands of people ariound the world. All of us at ICAHD are deeply grateful for this support

We ask you now, during the Holiday Season, to help us fund our activities for 2008. Your involvement is crucial to the ultimate goal fo ending the Occupation and opening the door to freedom and dignity for the people of Palestine. Please make a direct donation to ICAHD by clicking the button on the left.

In solidarity.
The activists, staff & Board of Directors of ICAHD

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 ©2007 ICAHD: The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
 PO Box 2030, Jerusalem, Israel 91020   •   Tel: +972-2-624-5560   •   email: info@icahd.org