Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions: Difference between revisions

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The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) describes itself as "a non-violent, direct-action group originally established to oppose and resist Israeli demolition of Palestinian houses in the Occupied Territories."[2] It was founded by Jeff Halper, a former professor of Anthropology at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

ICAHD opposes what it calls the "matrix of control" that Israel has established over the West Bank and East Jerusalem and sees the dismantling of this control as the only path towards peace. [3] They also actively campaign against what they believe are Human rights violations and an emerging apartheid. [4]

ICAHD's activities include publishing reports, analysis, and books on what it considers an Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, on International advocacy, and what it terms peaceful protest and resistance operations on the ground. Each summer ICAHD organizes a summer camp at which Internationals (i.e. foreigners), Israelis, and Palestinians rebuild a demolished Palestinian home. ICAHD also discusses their opinions with journalists and visiting diplomats, and conducts tours of Greater Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

Activities

2004

ICAHD-USA is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

2007

ICAHD's fifth consecutive summer camp, re-building a house demolished by Israel.[5] Volunteers from UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy and Canada attend.

Praise

In 2006, the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker service organization, nominated Halper for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work related to ICAHD.([6] and [7])

Criticism

The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America documents what it considers Jeff Halper's "baseless anti-Israel charges" and "fringe political views." The organization cites, for example, alleged misstatements about Palestinian agricultural and economic growth, and a statement by Halper that "a Jewish state has proven politically, and in the end, morally, untenable."^[1]

NGO Monitor also reports on ICAHD, writing that the Committee "consistently ignores the context of ongoing Palestinian terror attacks, promotes the “Durban strategy” of demonizing the Jewish state, campaigns against the two-state solution, and partners with radical NGOs."^[2]

A column by Seth Freedman on the Guardian's Comment is Free website described Halper as a "sinister figure in terms of the damage he does to the chances of rapprochement between the moderates in Israel and those on the Palestinian side of the divide."^[3]

Notes

^ "The Professor's Truth Demolition", Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, May 12, 2005. Accessed Aug. 2, 2007.
^ [1]
^ "Burning Bridges", Guardian, Seth Freedman, July 26, 2007. Accessed Aug. 6, 2007.

Selective Publications

Toward a third intifada, Fred Schlomka, Op-Ed Piece, The Baltimore Sun, May 28, 2006
The End of a Viable Palestinian State, Jeff Halper, CounterPunch, March 31, 2005
Nishul (Displacement): Israel's Form of Apartheid, Jeff Halper, An African Conversation on Israel and Palestine, Columbia University, (2002)
The Matrix of Control, Jeff Halper, Media Monitors Network, January 29, 2001

External links

[1] "The Professor's Truth Demolition", Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, May 12, 2005. Accessed Aug. 2, 2007.

[2] [1]

[3] "Burning Bridges", Guardian, Seth Freedman, July 26, 2007. Accessed Aug. 6, 2007.

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 [[NGO Monitor]] also reports on ICAHD, writing that the Committee "consistently ignores the context of ongoing Palestinian terror attacks, promotes the “Durban strategy” of demonizing the Jewish state, campaigns against the two-state solution, and partners with radical NGOs."<ref>[http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/eu_funding_promotes_icahd_s_ideological_agenda]</ref>
+A column by Seth Freedman on the ''Guardian'''s Comment is Free website described Halper as a "sinister figure in terms of the damage he does to the chances of rapprochement between the moderates in Israel and those on the Palestinian side of the divide."<ref>[http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/seth_freedman/2007/07/burning_bridges.html "Burning Bridges"], ''Guardian,'' Seth Freedman, July 26, 2007. Accessed Aug. 6, 2007.</ref>
 ==Notes==