Photo: Supporters at London demonstration - 14 October 2023 - Simon Hannington
The present crisis did not begin on October 7^th, as Israel (and Biden) would have it. Focusing on immediate events, particularly the gruesome and indefensible killing of Israeli civilians, feeds right into Israeli hasbara. Not that the attack should not be at the center of attention in its own right but taking it as the cause of Israel’s retaliation – indeed, proof that Israel is an innocent victim of Palestinian terrorism and must be allowed to “defend itself” – effectively conceals the wider political context which defines what is happening from the micro to macro: Zionist/Israeli settler colonialism. Indeed, it shuts down all political discussion.
That is precisely why we need to view events such as October 7^th through an informed and critical political lens. Only by understanding them as part of the Palestinians’ century-long struggle for liberation from Zionist/Israeli colonization can we explain why many Palestinians felt a sense of pride at the Hamas breakout from Gaza and continue to support the operation despite its tragic aftermath.
What is that lens through which the October 7^th events and the disproportionate Israeli retaliation must be viewed? The lens of Zionist/Israeli settler colonialism. Now the term “settler colonialism” is bandied about when talking about Zionism and Israel’s consolidation of its apartheid regime. But it is used mainly as an accusation, a way to delegitimize Israel and its expansionism, not as an analysis that leads to a political program. Only by understanding its logic and intentions can we interpret events big and small, from why the two-state solution never was to why Israel’s assault on the Palestinians of Gaza is so ferocious and, beyond exacting vengeance from Hamas and what political designs lie behind it.
- Jeff Halper’s article on the choice between genocide/apartheid or a democratic state.
- Jeff Halper’s October update on how Hamas has succeeded in bringing the Palestinians into focus again but with negative reverberations beyond the initial elation.
* Write to your political representatives – in the UK via this link and ask that your request be sent to the Foreign Secretary as you call for: + An immediate ceasefire – collective punishment is a war crime so all parties must adhere to international law. Rushi Sunak and the Keir Starmer have been warned of complicity in war crimes. Further information here . + Humanitarian aid to be immediately sent into Gaza + Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 1685 on Protecting Civilians in Gaza and Israel
* Join marches and demonstrations where you live
* Sign petitions + #CeaseFire Now. The statement is for individuals https://www.change.org/p/sign-and-share-this-urgent-petition-calling-for-a-ceasefirenow-in-gaza-and-israel?recruiter=1319534707&recruited_by_id=f2078ce0-6dea-11ee-8856-5b15557ca7b6&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_content=cl_sharecopy_37700646_en-GB%3A4and organisations (https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/open-call-immediate-ceasefire-gaza-strip-and-israel-prevent-humanitarian-catastrophe-and-further-loss-innocent-lives ) through the launch of the #CeasefireNOW petition. The aim is to mobilize 2.2 million people from around the world, the same as the population of Palestinians living in Gaza, to sign the petition calling on all world leaders, the UN Security Council, and actors on the ground to act now to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
* Contribute to ICAHD’s ongoing cutting-edge work through financial donationsor by becoming a member . Between 8–15 October there were 84,179 visits to the ICAHD website with 126,631 pages opened which demonstrates how much our analysis is respected. Help us to continue and reach even more people.
March with the ICAHD UK flags on Saturday, 21^st October. We will be part of the Jewish Bloc which with gather outside Pret a Manger (Marble Arch), 26 Edgware Road, London W2 2EH at 12 noon to proceed to join the march.
Dates for Your Diary Photo: London demonstration, 14 October 2023 - Duncan Taylor
Wednesday 15 November 2023 at 5.00pm - ICAHD UK Webinar. Jeff Halper in Conversation with Avi Shlaim on his new book 'Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab Jew'. Further details will be available shortly.
17 – 30 November 2023 - Palestine Film Festival – cinemas across London. Begins with Marwan Barghouti: Tomorrow’s Freedom which also features perspectives from Jeff Halper. Details here .
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
Actions Bulletin - Gaza War - Oct 2023
* Read Jeff Halper’s Latest Article * Respond to the Atrocities * Know that Jeff Halper Censored * Note the Dates for Your Diary Gaza: Foregrounding the Political Struggle Jeff Halper Photo: A residential building ws destroyed and neighbouring properties damaged in an Israeli strike on the Sheikh Ridwan district of northern Gaza City on 19 October 2023 [Mohammed Adad / Middle East Monitor]
Read the full article...
Other ICAHD resources about the Gaza War 2023 - The ICAHD statement about the Gaza war (https://icahd.org/2023/10/09/icahd-statement-on-the-gaza-war/) .
Read more- Also see the statement from ICAHD’s Palestine-led partner organisation
the (https://icahd.org/2023/10/15/stop-the-genocide-in-gaza-a-statement-of-the-one-democratic-state-campaign/) One Democratic State Campaign (https://icahd.org/2023/10/15/stop-the-genocide-in-gaza-a-statement-of-the-one-democratic-state-campaign/) . It asks that we appeal in our masses to our governments, complicit as they are in these crimes against humanity. Respond to the Atrocities * Understand the context & circulate ICAHD’s analysis to others
Read morePodcast with Jeff Halper Censored
J.G. Michael, Producer and Host of Parallax Views (https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/) , contacted us to say that the podcast it recorded this week featuring Huwaida Arraf, Co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, and Jeff Halper is being flagged as "spam" or "hate speech" on Facebook. Michael stated that this had never happened before. “Both of you called for a one, democratic state solution. Nothing hateful. Neither of you made for expulsion of Jewish people from that land, but rather a call for Palestinians and Jews to be able to live together as equals. Again, neither of you said anything hateful. You both called for an end to violence and bloodshed. I'm devastated by this along with everything else happening.” He asked that we make the recording available to our followers. Hear the episode here (https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/e/arrafhalper/) .
Saturday 21 October 2023 - National march for Palestine - Marble Arch (see above)
Monday 30 October 2023 6.30pm, One Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ – International Centre Justice for Palestine sponsors ‘Oslo Accords at 30: From the Illusion of Peace to Apartheid’. Register here (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oslo-accords-at-30-from-the-illusion-of-peace-to-apartheid-tickets-718451546917) .