New maps, self-demolitions, many events

Rabbi Arik Ascherman has led Israeli human rights organizations for over 26 years, is executive director of Torat Tzedek-Torah of Justice and the former director of Rabbis for Human Rights.

Guy Hirschfield, field coordinator for Torat Tzedek – Torah of Justice, with responsibility for protecting the shepherding community in the Jordan Valley. Guy is also involved in a separate project that attempts to bring the reality of the Occupation to non-activist Israelis living in Tel Aviv.

Within Jabal Mukaber alone there are 5000 demolition orders pending to clear the area because of the Municipality’s plan to expand the city’s so-called “American Road” through its neighbourhood. The new road is about connecting Israel’s illegal settlements and clearing more of East Jerusalem of its Palestinian population, both aspects violate the Fourth Geneva Convention. In general, Israeli authorities rarely grant permission to Palestinians to construct or even expand their homes. Then Israel says that their homes must be demolished because they had not obtained a building permit. This is another example of the apartheid policies that exists within Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

Photo: Ali Awad – Jaber Al-Dabasaseh standing in the rubble of the 5th his demolition of his home in the South Hebron Hills

Other speakers will provide updates of our campaigns including British-made JCB bulldozers, a company that sells its machines then used to demolish Palestinian homes. Palestinians will speak about actions of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and its subsidiaries which aggressively seek to cleanse the indigenous population from their homes and land.

The conference will include news of the impact following the release of the Amnesty report on Israel’s apartheid policies and ICAHD’s Jeff Halper will address how demolitions and displacement are at the core of Israel’s settler colonial policy.

Other confirmed speakers include: * Manal Shqair, International Advocacy Officer Stop the Wall * Rashid Khudairy, Co-ordinator Jordan Valley Solidarity Campaign * Sami Hureini, Coordinator Youth of Sumud, South Hebron Hills

Additional speakers will soon be announced Register for the Conference here Revoke the JNF UK's charitable status Photo: Torla Evans Members of ICAHD UK were present along with other activists representing Stop the JNF and PSC when they handed in an open letter to the Charity Commission in London. The letter was signed by over 4000 people and demanded that it revoke the JNF UK’s charitable status because of its role in the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. The activists were joined by Tommy Shepherd, MP who along with some others read out statements received from Palestinians who spoke of how actions taken by the JNF have affected their lives.

See the letter hereand more information about our focus on the Jewish National Fund is available here .

Saturday 14 May 2022 - National Demonstration and March - End Apartheid - Free Palestine - assemble 12 noon Portland Place, by the BBC, London. Contact info@icahduk.org if you would like to march with the ICAHD UK banner