Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
Encyclopedia
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) is an Israeli peace and human rights organization dedicated to ending the occupation of the Palestinian territories and achieving a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. In particular, ICAHD uses non-violent, direct-action means of resistance to end Israel's policy of demolishing Palestinian homes
in the Occupied Territories
. ICAHD was founded by eight peace activists (see box), among whom was Jeff Halper
, a long-time human rights advocate and professor of Anthropology
, who serves as ICAHD's Director.
ICAHD opposes the continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank
and East Jerusalem
and the building and enlarging of Israeli-only settlements in these areas. ICAHD states that "ending the Occupation is a prerequisite for peace and the primary goal of all of ICAHD's activities." ICAHD also focuses on preventing the "longstanding and ongoing human rights violations" and asserts that Israel's actions have led to an emerging apartheid regime in the Occupied Territories.
and Gaza
, international advocacy, and protest and non-violent resistance operations on the ground. It also organizes the rebuilding of demolished Palestinian houses using a network of Israeli, Palestinian and international volunteers. In addition to rebuilding demolished Palestinian houses, ICAHD often takes legal actions on behalf of Palestinians whose houses have been demolished or are threatened with demolition (see example of Aqabah
).
Members of ICAHD have been arrested numerous times by the Israeli army and police for attempting to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes. Most recently, on April 3, 2008, ICAHD Coordinator Jeff Halper
was arrested for the eighth time while nonviolently protesting the bulldozing of the home of the Hamdan family in a Palestinian neighborhood of Jerusalem – a house that had already been torn down once by Israeli authorities and had been rebuilt by ICAHD.
ICAHD sends out action alerts and activists from different groups go out and engage in civil disobedience by stopping the bulldozers.
, and is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The United Kingdom branch, ICAHD-UK, is located in London, and the Norwegian branch is located in Tromsø
.
, a non-profit advocacy group that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947, nominated Jeff Halper
for the Nobel Peace Prize
due to his ICAHD-related work, citing ICAHD's work "to liberate both the Palestinian and the Israeli people from the yoke of structural violence" and "to build equality between their people by recognizing and celebrating their common humanity."
In 2007, ICAHD received the Olive Branch Award from Jewish Voice for Peace
.
and NGO Monitor
have criticized ICAHD for its activities. CAMERA contends that Halper has made misstatements about Palestinian economic and agricultural growth, and has criticized Halper's view that a Jewish state with "exclusive "ownership"" is "politically, and in the end, morally untenable".
NGO Monitor says that ICAHD "consistently ignores the context of ongoing Palestinian terror attacks", and asserts that ICAHD, "promote[s] the "Durban Strategy
" of boycotts and demonizing Israel, using terms such as "apartheid", "ethnic cleansing
", "state terrorism
", "land theft" and a "massacre."
In addition, Malcolm Hoenlein, in 2007, then executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said ICAHD was "trying to talk about demolitions without presenting the reason or truth for it. They couch it in more moderate terms but the anti-Israel purpose is clear."
House demolition in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
House demolition is a controversial tactic used by the Israeli Defence Forces and Israeli settlers in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip against Palestinians....
in the Occupied Territories
Israeli-occupied territories
The Israeli-occupied territories are the territories which have been designated as occupied territory by the United Nations and other international organizations, governments and others to refer to the territory seized by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967 from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria...
. ICAHD was founded by eight peace activists (see box), among whom was Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper is an anthropologist, author, lecturer, political activist, and co-founder and Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions...
, a long-time human rights advocate and professor of Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, who serves as ICAHD's Director.
ICAHD opposes the continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem or Eastern Jerusalem refer to the parts of Jerusalem captured and annexed by Jordan in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and then captured and annexed by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War...
and the building and enlarging of Israeli-only settlements in these areas. ICAHD states that "ending the Occupation is a prerequisite for peace and the primary goal of all of ICAHD's activities." ICAHD also focuses on preventing the "longstanding and ongoing human rights violations" and asserts that Israel's actions have led to an emerging apartheid regime in the Occupied Territories.
Activities
ICAHD's activities include publication of books and articles on the Israeli occupation of the West BankWest Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, international advocacy, and protest and non-violent resistance operations on the ground. It also organizes the rebuilding of demolished Palestinian houses using a network of Israeli, Palestinian and international volunteers. In addition to rebuilding demolished Palestinian houses, ICAHD often takes legal actions on behalf of Palestinians whose houses have been demolished or are threatened with demolition (see example of Aqabah
Aqabah
Aqabah is a Palestinian village in the northeastern West Bank, which is being targeted for demolition by the Israeli Civil Administration...
).
Members of ICAHD have been arrested numerous times by the Israeli army and police for attempting to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes. Most recently, on April 3, 2008, ICAHD Coordinator Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper is an anthropologist, author, lecturer, political activist, and co-founder and Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions...
was arrested for the eighth time while nonviolently protesting the bulldozing of the home of the Hamdan family in a Palestinian neighborhood of Jerusalem – a house that had already been torn down once by Israeli authorities and had been rebuilt by ICAHD.
ICAHD sends out action alerts and activists from different groups go out and engage in civil disobedience by stopping the bulldozers.
International chapters
Because of the worldwide interest in its activities, ICAHD has set up chapters in several countries. ICAHD-USA is headquartered in Chapel Hill, North CarolinaChapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, and is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The United Kingdom branch, ICAHD-UK, is located in London, and the Norwegian branch is located in Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
.
Funding
According to ICAHD's website, its "activities . . . depend on assistance from individuals and organizations in Israel and abroad. ICAHD also receives financial support from the European Union." For example, in 2005, the EU provided ICAHD with €472,786 for a project called "Re-framing: Providing a Coherent Paradigm of Peace to the Israeli Public" under the Partnership for Peace program.Praise
In 2006, the American Friends Service CommitteeAmerican Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Religious Society of Friends affiliated organization which works for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world...
, a non-profit advocacy group that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947, nominated Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper is an anthropologist, author, lecturer, political activist, and co-founder and Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions...
for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
due to his ICAHD-related work, citing ICAHD's work "to liberate both the Palestinian and the Israeli people from the yoke of structural violence" and "to build equality between their people by recognizing and celebrating their common humanity."
In 2007, ICAHD received the Olive Branch Award from Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace is a United States Jewish organization which describes itself as "a diverse and democratic community of activists inspired by Jewish tradition to work together for peace, social justice, and human rights [to] support the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians for security...
.
Criticism
The pro-Israel advocacy groups CAMERACommittee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America is an American non-profit pro-Israel media watchdog group. The group says it was founded in 1982 "to respond to the Washington Post's coverage of Israel's Lebanon incursion", and to respond to what it considers the media's "general...
and NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem, Israel whose stated aim is to generate and distribute critical analysis and reports on the output of the international NGO community for the benefit of government policy makers, journalists, philanthropic organizations and the...
have criticized ICAHD for its activities. CAMERA contends that Halper has made misstatements about Palestinian economic and agricultural growth, and has criticized Halper's view that a Jewish state with "exclusive "ownership"" is "politically, and in the end, morally untenable".
NGO Monitor says that ICAHD "consistently ignores the context of ongoing Palestinian terror attacks", and asserts that ICAHD, "promote[s] the "Durban Strategy
Durban Strategy
The 2001 World Conference against Racism , also known as Durban I, was held at the Durban International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa, under UN auspices, from 31 August to 8 September 2001....
" of boycotts and demonizing Israel, using terms such as "apartheid", "ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
", "state terrorism
State terrorism
State terrorism may refer to acts of terrorism conducted by a state against a foreign state or people. It can also refer to acts of violence by a state against its own people.-Definition:...
", "land theft" and a "massacre."
In addition, Malcolm Hoenlein, in 2007, then executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said ICAHD was "trying to talk about demolitions without presenting the reason or truth for it. They couch it in more moderate terms but the anti-Israel purpose is clear."
Publications
- Jeff Halper, End of the Road Map, Counterpunch, January 3, 2008
- Jeff Halper, The End of a Viable Palestinian State, CounterPunch, March 31, 2005
- Jeff Halper, Nishul (Displacement): Israel's Form of Apartheid An African Conversation on Israel and Palestine, Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, 2002 - Jeff Halper, The Matrix of Control, Media Monitors Network, January 29, 2001
External links
- Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
- ICAHD UK
- ICAHD-USA
- Lecture: Jeff Halper – The United States, Israel and the American Jewish Community (video, 2007)
- Jeff Halper's Blog at TikkunTikkunTikkun/Tikun is a Hebrew word meaning "Fixing/Rectification". It has several connotations in Judaism:Traditional:*Tikkun , a book of Torah scroll text, used when learning to chant Torah portions or for correct-fixed scribal calligraphy...