Photo: Demolition at Al-Jiftlik, Jordan Valley, 23 September 2024 - Aref Daraghmeh, B'Tselem
Jeff Halper's November Update What does the election of Donald Trump mean for the Palestinians?
Donald Trump will return to the role of US president with absolute power to push through his ultimate deals as he puts America first.
He represents “transactionalism” which is all to do with deals and is the opposite of a rules-based moral order. It holds no values, no ideology – just winning deals – and Israel has much to offer like with security surveillance, military armaments, control of vital geographic Middle East regions.
Trump wants to complete the Abraham Accords, with Saudi Arabia as the “jewel in the crown”, that will “normalize” Israel on all of historic Palestine. View the recording to find out how we can push-back against this to stop the elimination of the Palestinian people.
View this short recording here October Demolition and Displacement Report Photo: A greenhouse demolished by Israeli forces, Qalqiliya city, 30 October 2024, photo by OCHA
The above statistics do not include the extensive destruction to the cities and refugee camps in the West Bank during October. The Israeli forces targeted infrastructure including water pipes, telephone and electricity lines as well as home demolitions. The incursions occurred in Jenin Refugee Camp on 14 October and Nur Shams Refugee Camp on 31 October for which the numbers affected are estimated to be in the thousands. Tulkarm and Al-Far’a refugee camp south of Tubas were also invaded. However, because we do not have accurate numbers these are not included in the total number affected for the month recorded as 361. In reality, those affected are many times greater.
We have long stated that Israel’s policy is to make life so impossible for the Palestinians that they give up and leave. This is ethnic cleansing and enables Israel to confiscate the land upon which settlements can be constructed.
Currently, we are also watching what is unfolding in Umm Al-Hiran, one of the unrecognized villages in the Naqab/Negev. Fifty percent of the community has already been demolished with the residents forcibly displaced to the “reservation” of Hura. The remaining homes and structures are slated for demolition on Sunday, 10^th November. This is yet another gross example of Israel’s apartheid policies that it is implementing over Palestinian citizens of Israel. View the Demolition and Displacement Report here Write to Your MP
Photo: Banner at National Demonstration on Palestine - 2nd November 2024
The West is not “complicit” in Israel’s genocide, it is a “partner,” so said distinguished Gazan lawyer Raji Sourani, Founder of the Palestinian Centre of Human Rights, at the annual Edward Said Lecture in London on 11^th October. This is why we must continue to lobby our MPs and call for international law to be respected.
The list of Israeli violations is long and because the UK government is a signatory of the Fourth Geneva Conventions, it has third party responsibility for ensuring that international law is respected. Instead, our government remains silent thus there must be no let-up in continuing to pressure our MPs. Write to your MP and call for: * An immediate ceasefire in Gaza
* Stop Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and which is spreading into the West Bank
* End the UK’s arms trade with Israel
* Call Israel to account for its demolition of Palestinian homes and structures vital for living that are resulting in ethnic cleansing. Entire villages have been cleared.
* Israel’s Apartheid policies both within the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the state of Israel must end
Netanyahu is rapidly creating as many facts on the ground as possible due to the demolitions, displacement of Palestinians, land confiscation and the growth of Israel’s illegal settlements. This proves that Israel’s objective it to create one state for the Jewish population with no regard for the indigenous Palestinian population.
Ask your MP how these actions are justified and why the government is silent as Palestinians are being exterminated.
Photo: Jeff Halper and Raji Sourani at the Edward Said Lecture. It was the first time they had seen each other since Jeff sailed into Gaza in August 2008.
Watch recordings of presentations by Jeff Halperand Naema Wajeeh Aldaqsha
Over the last year, Bruno returned to the West Bank several times to collect more material to for his latest documentary featuring the Jaber family that will be shown on Al-Jazeera television’s Witness programme beginning on 20th November and repeated over the course of the next seven days.
ICAHD’s Jeff Halper also features in ‘Sumud – My West Bank Farm’ because of ICAHD’s involvement in resisting the demolitions experienced by the Jaber family and the two homes it rebuilt for the family. Dates for Your Diary From Wednesday 20 November for a Week - Sumud: My West Bank Farm – Al-Jazeera’s Witness programme.
Wednesday, 4 December – ICAHD UK webinar – Trump’s presidency and the Abraham Accords – 5pm UK on Zoom. Details to follow.
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
Actions Bulletin - November 2024
* Watch Jeff Halper’s November Update * View Interview with Jeff Halper on London March * Read the October Demolition & Displacement Report * Write to Your MP * See Recordings from the London Conference * Note Screening of ‘Sumud – My West Bank Farm’ * Mark These Dates for Your Diary If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please join us (https://icahd.org/join-us/) to enable our campaign to spread at this critical time in history.
Jeff Halper Interviewed at the
National Demonstration for Palestine On 2nd November 2024, Jeff Halper, ICAHD’s Director, participated in the National Demonstration for Palestine held in London that attracted more than 100,000 people who filled the route of the march. It coincided with Jeff’s final day in the UK following his three-week visit where he spoke at several events including two conferences, in parliament and at several meetings in England and Scotland. Jeff warns that the Palestinians risk imprisonment in their militarily closed West Bank and Gazan enclaves within a legitimated Israeli apartheid regime.
Contact your MP via this link
Go here for advice on writing to your MP (https://icahd.org/2020/03/30/sample-lobby-letters/)
Read moreLondon Conference Recordings
The first recordings from the ICAHD UK conference, Focusing on the Big Picture: Where Are We Headed in Palestine/Israel, are now available. The conference was held at the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, Shaftsbury Avenue, London, on Saturday, 19^th October. Recording that are currently available include sessions led by Jeff Halper and Naema Wajeeh Aldaqsha.
Tune in to Al-Jazeera
‘Sumud – My West Bank Farm’ follows the lives of Atta and Rudina Jaber and their family over more than twenty years. The film was made by the multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker Bruno Sorrentino of Palio Films. Bruno, along with filmmaker Uri Fruchtmann, first meet the Jabers in 1999 when he made the film ‘Reservoir Raiders’ which depicts how Israel controls who has access to natural resources which is as much a feature of Israeli apartheid against Palestinians as bullets and bombs.
Wednesday 27 November - PSC Lobby of Parliament - 2-5pm, London
Saturday 30 November - National March for Palestine - End the Genocide, Hands Off Lebanon, Don't Attack Iran, Stop Arming Israel – noon, Central London
Monday, 31 March – 10 April 2025 – Study Tour to Palestine/Israel
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.