September 2022 Actions Bulletin * See report on Jeff Halper’s UK visit * Attend the webinar on lobbying in the UK * Read the Demolition & Displacement report * Respond to the Days of Action for Masafer Yatta * Dates for your diary
Jeff Halper's UK Visit Part of the team that was on the ICAHD UK stall at the Greenbelt festival in August A few hundred people attended each Jeff signed copies of his books of Jeff's seminars
The new ICAHD UK flag was Our campaigns were highlighted in our stall outside our stall
While in London, a public meeting was held at SOAS. Also speaking were Ghada Karmi and Haim Bresheeth
For the full report on Jeff Halper’s UK visit, see here . ICAHD UK Webinar
Why Can't We Get the UK Government to Support the Palestinian Cause?
Speakers include: Clare Short, former MP Sir Vincent Fean, former British diplomat Karla McClaren, lobbyiest with Amnesty International UK
Palestinians are calling for internationals to stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Masafer Yatta to support their steadfastness and resistance to Israel’s intensified ethnic cleansing. Located in the South Hebron Hills, eight villages are threatened with demolitions and the displacement of more than one thousand residents as Israel extends it military operations. We believe that the longer term plan is to establish more Jewish-only settlements that violate international law.
The mobilization will begin on September 16, the 40th anniversary of the massacre in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, committed in 1982 by a Christian Phalange militia in Lebanon under direct supervision of the occupying Israeli army at the time. From refugees still struggling for their right to return to their homes to those threatened by expulsion today, Indigenous Palestinians everywhere demand an end to Israeli impunity.
The Global Days of Action will culminate ahead of the UN General Assembly debates starting on September 20 when Palestinian civil society will call for the UN to investigate Israeli apartheid. For full information see here .
This statement was made on 12^th September 2022 in Geneva at the opening session of the UN’s Human Right Council concerning the OPT by Nada Al-Nashif, UN Acting HIgh Commissioner for Human Rights:
"I am alarmed by the targeting of human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the apparently arbitrary closure orders of seven Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organizations in Ramallah on 18 August and threats of arrest for doing their work. OHCHR remains concerned that Israel has not renewed the visas for OHCHR international staff in our Palestine office, further restricting human rights engagement in the occupied Palestinian territory.
There is a disturbing increase in the number of Palestinians, including children, killed and injured by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in the recent escalation in Gaza in early August and the widespread use of live ammunition in law enforcement operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. I call for prompt, independent, impartial, thorough and transparent investigations into all incidents where any person was killed or injured. We note the Israeli military investigation of Ms. Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing and Mr. Ali Sammoudi’s injury and call for a criminal investigation compliant with international law standards."
We appreciate such statements and growing awareness of the truth but only by our continuous lobbying and ongoing campaigns will the situation change.
18 – 27 October – Study tour to Palestine/Israel for professionals from the fields of mental health and social work – for information see here .
Wednesday 19 October - ICAHD UK Webinar - 12 noon (US Eastern) / 5pm (UK) / 7pm (Jerusalem). Information to follow.
7 –17 November – Study tour to Palestine/Israel – for information see her e.
Wednesday, 23 November – ICAHD UK Webinar - 12 noon (US Eastern) / 5pm (UK) / 7pm (Jerusalem) - Exploring the Palestine Issue with Andrew Feinstein in Conversation with Jeff Halper – Part 2 Information to follow. Many thanks for your ongong support. If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please join usor make a donation 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
Wednesday, 28 September
5pm UK, 7pm Jerusalem, 12 noon US Eastern time Is there any way that we can engage with our government or is this simply impossible? What can we learn from other NGOs who lobby MPs? What are the best ways for civil society to affect government policy especially with it being so pro-Israel?
Click here for full information and publicity
Register for this webinar here (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlce2vqTMrGtelHsJUgihfYpno_9jR7H8Y) August Demolition & Displacement Report Photo: OCHA OPT, 16 August 2022, livelihood structure, East Jerusalem Considering all of the demolitions during August, only two were punitive demolitions, meaning that it was done to punish the family of a Palestinian suspected of an act of terrorism, and on two dates, the demolitions were the result of military operations. All the other demolitions were because the family did not have a building permit however we must remember that Israel rarely grants building permits to Palestinians. This is a blatant illustration of Israel’s apartheid policies where it favours one people group (the Jews) over another (the Palestinians) when it comes to permits for housing needs and that of other structures vital for living. View the full Demolition and Displacement Report here (https://icahd.org/2022/09/10/august-2022-demolition-and-displacement-report/)
Read moreDates for Your Diary
16 – 19 September – Global Days of Action for Masafer Yatta Wednesday, 28 September - ICAHD UK Webinar, 12 noon (US Eastern / 5pm (UK) /7pm (Jerusalem) - Why can't we get Governments to support the Palestinian cause? Register here (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlce2vqTMrGtelHsJUgihfYpno_9jR7H8Y)