Our Roots

From its beginning, formed as a direct action collective 1997, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) has been dedicated to seeking a just resolution for Palestinians and Israelis. Towards this end, ICAHD focuses on Israel’s policy of demolishing Palestinian homes as a vehicle for exposing how the Occupation works. Originally based in Jerusalem and led by Co-Founder Jeff Halper, ICAHD evolved into an organization with six regional centers that together resist Israeli policies and practices on the ground, conduct political tours and lectures, and provide critical analysis and mobilize partners for a just resolution in Palestine-Israel and abroad.

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions-USA (ICAHD-USA) was born in 2004 of this international ICAHD network. We operate as a critical voice in the United States, expanding our global advocacy efforts as we continue to support and amplify resistance in Palestine-Israel.

ICAHD-USA Board of Directors

Michael Spath, Chair, is the Executive Director of the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, a member of the Global Kairos for Justice Coalition and the United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Networ

Kenneth Boas, holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California. He teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and is a visiting scholar at the Humanities Center, University of Pittsburgh.  Ken has a rich history of activism and community involvement and was on the board of directors of the Thomas Merton Center. He is a member of the Pittsburgh BDS Coalition.

Dick Platkin, Treasurer, teaches sustainable city planning at USC. In the 1970s he was a student in Jerusalem, where he met ICAHD co-founder Jeff Halper through political activities.  After that, in Seattle and Los Angeles, he participated in anti-war organizations and was a union officer.  In response to Israel’s attack on Gaza in 2006, he helped found L.A. Jews for Peace, a Los Angeles-based organization that focuses on US foreign policy in the Middle East, especially Israel-Palestine.

Lori Rudolph is a Fulbright Scholar and an associate professor of counseling at New Mexico Highlands University, she has spent extended periods of time in the West Bank as a mental health consultant and professor.  She taught at two Universities, Al Quds and Bethlehem University and has lived in Dheisheh Refugee Camp where she worked with the Ibdaa Cultural Center.  Sparked by the Sabra and Shatila massacre she has been actively involved since 1982, and co-founded various activist groups in Albuquerque, NM and served on Jewish Voice for Peace’s national coordinating committee for the TIAA –CREF campaign for two years.

Sue Dravis

Robert Herbst

Thomas Abowd

Salsi Salama