October 2021 Newsletter * ICAHD response to Israel’s designation of the 6 Palestinian NGOs * Engage in COP26 – Climate Justice, Not Ethnic Cleansing * Palestinian activist Bassem Tamimi interviewed * November’s webinar – resisting Israel’s demolition policy in the UK * Crowdfunder for book translation – a key strategic action * Resuming the study tours and building camp during 2022 * Dates for your diary
ICAHD condemns Israel's designation of Palestinian human rights organisations as "terror groups" ICAHD joins dozens of Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights and political organizations in condemning the Israeli government's designation of six prominent Palestinian human rights organizations as "terrorist groups." This is not simply a routine political matter. As our statement explains, it puts all human rights organizations and everyone active in supporting Palestinian national rights in great jeopardy. This is another example of how governments unilaterally and in self-serving ways label this or that organization as "terrorist," thereby outlawing and silencing them while evading their own terroristic acts and policies -- one of the most dangerous by-products of the so-called "War on Terror" which has destroyed whole countries and itself terrorized and killed millions. Time for civil society push-back. Read the full statement here (https://icahd.org/2021/10/25/statement/ ) .
Contact your political representative as all must be confronted and asked whether they will support human rights defenders ensuring that the rule of law is upheld. This is a pivotal moment – don’t miss playing your part in it. To contact UK MPs go hereand ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion on this issue
Demonstrations - ICAHD UK will be present at the demonstrations on 6^th November. To march with us in Glasgow, please give your name to Sharen Green (sharen_eappi@msn.com ) and for London, please email Malcolm Wright (info@icahduk.org). You will then be contacted regarding the place to meet. Demonstrations will be held in other cities and those locations are listed here .
Flyers - We have prepared news flyers that draw attention to climate injustice in Palestine. Order your supply for use now and ongoing where you live. Contact info@icahduk.org .
Fringe meeting during COP26 – Attend the event about Palestine either in person or online. “How Apartheid Israel and the Climate Crisis are Intertwined” – 9^th November 11.45am. See here for details and to register .
Note: Palestinians barred from attendance - The UK recognises the Israeli administered vaccinations. It does not recognise the vaccinations carried out by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, so key Palestinian environmentalists are effectively denied participation in COP 26 which is now only possible via Zoom. ICAHD UK's Interview with Bassem Tamini Palestinian grassroots activist, described by the European Union as a human rights defender, and designated by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience
Photo: Electricintifada
To register for this webinar that begins at the slightly later time of 6pm (UK time) go here . DEMOLITION UPDATE: More than 1,300 Palestinians were affected during the last week of October as Israeli forces cut a water network, demolished a school, a home and a solidarity tent. These are all violations of international law. This cruelty must end! Join ICAHD campaigns . Contribute to our Crowdfunder - help change history
ICAHD has always combined resistance to the Israeli Occupation with political work intended to achieve a just resolution to what we now define as Israel’s settler colonial and apartheid policies. Israeli Jews are stakeholders in the process of reconstructing a state and civil society that represents all the country's citizens. Critical Israelis play an important bridging role to the Palestinians as together they pursue a just resolution. Therefore, this book, endorsed by the One Democratic State Campaign, needs to be published in Arabic. We cannot reach out to the Palestinian community, far-flung and scattered as it is, as well as to partners in the Arab world, unless these programs and analyses are in Arabic. This crowdfunding campaign seeks to raise the funds needed for the translation, publication, and dissemination of the book.
A minimum of £5000 is needed. We got off to a good start but since then the page has gone quiet. We know that many people intend to donate so we hope that this prodding will result in intended action being taken.
The donation page is found here https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/icahdukand we hope that you will also make others aware of this strategic need for help. Thanks to all who are standing with us in this struggle.
We are already taking names so to register your interest don’t delay. Please contact info@icahduk.org . Further details are soon to be released.
Saturday, 6 November - COP26 Coalition - Global Day of Action. Join the Palestine solidarity bloc at demonstrations in Glasgow and London for climate justice. Further information available here .
Sunday, 7 November – ICAHD USA webinar - "Christian Zionism: What Is It, How Does it Impact on the Palestinian Question, and How Do We Combat It?" with Don Wagner, Stephen Sizer and Jonathan Kuttab – 4pm EST and 9pm UK. Register here .
Tuesday, 9 November – COP26 fringe Palestine meeting – 11.45am. “How Apartheid Israel and the Climate Crisis are Intertwined”. Details here .
Wednesday, 17 November – ICAHD UK webinar – “Resisting demolitions outside Palestine”. 6pm. Register here .
Saturday, 23 April 2022 – ICAHD UK Annual Conference – Amnesty Human Rights Centre, London – mark your diary and 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
Solidarity with Palestinians during COP26
During our October webinar Dr Eurig Scandrett explained that Palestinians residing in both the Occupied Palestine Territory and within the state of Israel are denied control over their land, water, and energy sources and many know first-hand what climate crisis means. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has played a key role not only in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homeland but also in destroying the natural environment and contributing to climate disaster. The JNF seeks to greenwash these crimes as a participates in the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. Eurig explained the reasons for the call to keep the JNF out of COP26.View the recording here (https://vimeo.com/637454379/5644d21e87) .
Bassem Tamimi is the latest in our series of interviews with Palestinians and Israelis who believe that the only just and sustainable way ahead is for there to be one democratic state from the river to the sea. Bassem tells of his village, Nabi Saleh, and how it has a history of resistance despite those killed for their activism and with many being imprisoned, including his wife and children. Read the interview here
Announcing the November webinar: Resisting demolitions outside Palestine JCB bulldozers arrive at Masafer Yatta, South Hebron Hills on 26 October 2021
Read moreICAHD UK Webinar - Wed 17 November, 6.00-7.15pm (UK time)
Sharen Green – Protecting Palestinian Families Annie O’Gara - Stop the JNF Hilary Smith – Boycott Israel Network Martin Kemp – UK Palestine Mental Health Network Linda Ramsden – ICAHD UK Moderator: Monica Wusteman - ICAHD UK During this webinar receive updates from some of ICAHD UK’s partners. Hear about growth of the BDS movement, silence from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and JCB, the new focus on British Park and the three Palestinian villages demolished for its establishment and how some organisations are being challenged by their professional bodies for raising the Palestine issue.
Jeff Halper explains why this book translation is needed - view here
It is crucial that critical analyses be shared between Israelis and Palestinians, but language is often a major obstacle therefore we need your help in paying for Jeff Halper’s latest book to be translated in Arabic.
Read moreStudy tour and building plans for 2022
Covid permitting, the acclaimed ICAHD-recommended study tours to Palestine/Israel will resume in 2022. The dates set are 16 – 26 May and 7 – 17 November. The eleven-day political tours will have participants based in Bethlehem and Nazareth and will feature 30 encounters with outstanding Palestinian and Israeli organisations and individuals who are key in the struggle for freedom, justice and equality. Following the May tour, the participants will have the option to remain for a further few days to participate in one of our rebuilding activities on the ground as we continue to resist Israel’s ethnic cleaning of the Palestinian population from their homeland.
Dates for Your Diary
Saturday, 30 October – UK Palestine Mental Health Network Café Palestine – 3.45pm (UK time). Chaired by Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian on "Testimonies from Palestine: The Keys to Return: Voices from ‘48'". Join here (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85052460469?pwd=dWxMeWdQbmJYNkM4TjZMcTNLY0xpdz09) .
Monday, 16 – Thursday, 26 May 2022 – Study tour to Palestine/Israel + rebuilding activity
Monday, 7 – Thursday, 17 November 2022 – Study tour to Palestine/Israel Many thanks for your ongoing support. If you're not already a member of ICAHD UK, please consider joining us (https://icahd.org/join-us/) to enable our campaign to spread at this critical time in history.