ICAHD-USA is the American subsidiary of ICAHD-Israel, a peace activist organization begun in 1997 by Dr. Jeff Halper, a former anthropology professor at Ben Gurion University. ICAHD boasts its commitment to advancing a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians based on coexistence and respect for the human rights of both peoples. According to the organization’s credo: the needs for self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians must be addressed and that a political solution must provide all peoples of the region with security, dignity, freedom and economic opportunity. We affirm that a lasting peace is only possible by ending Israel’s Occupation and control of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. We oppose all forms of violence.
This communication from ICAHD-USA describes its summer activities.
This has been a very busy summer for ICAHD-USA. The Constructing Peace Campaign that you and many others around the country have supported has rebuilt over 40 demolished Palestinian homes and helped rebuild one entire Bedouin village. You responded generously to our most recent fundraising drive and we deeply appreciate your continuing commitment to building peace!
We are thrilled to announce the return of Dr. Jeff Halper, who will be traveling in the United States during October to speak about the current status of the Occupation, “the countdown to Apartheid,” and the role of ICAHD Israel, ICAHD-USA, and the Constructing Peace Campaign in challenging the forced transfer of Palestinians.
Sincerely,
Elyse Crystall, Coordinating Director, ICAHD-USA
Constructing Peace Speaking Tour with Dr. Jeff Halper
Dr. Jeff Halper has been a peace and human rights activist for more than three decades. In 1997, Halper co-founded the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) to challenge and resist the Israeli policy of demolishing Palestinian homes. As ICAHD Israel’s Coordinating Director, Dr. Halper has organized and led nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience against Israel’s Occupation policies and authorities. He has put his own personal safety on the line, facing bulldozers in front of Palestinian homes and confronting Israeli soldiers. He also organizes Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals to help rebuild demolished Palestinian homes.
ICAHD-USA is thrilled once again to sponsor a speaking tour with Dr. Jeff Halper. Dr. Halper will be speaking in cities across the U.S. from October 4 through October 27 when he participates in the annual Friends of Sabeel Conference in Boston along with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Diana Buttu, John Dugard, Naim Ateek & Dr. Noam Chomsky.
Dr. Halper will be speaking in Eastern Long Island; Madison, WI; Princeton, NJ; Portland, ME; Amherst, Gloucester and Boston, MA.
Jeff Halper’s speaking schedule in these communities is as follows:
Long Island, New York
October 4: Unitarian Universalist South Fork Meetinghouse
977 Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton (just south of Scuttlehole Road)
7:00 pm / Event is free – contributions accepted
“Peace or Apartheid, Indeed”
Dr. Halper will address the current state of affairs and why he believes that a two-state solution permitting a truly sovereign and VIABLE Palestinian state has been eliminated by Israel’s settlement enterprise.
Sponsored by: Committee for Peace in Israel / Palestine; East End Women in Black
For more information: Tony Ernst, anthony_ernst@yahoo.com or 631-259-2482
October 5: Unitarian Universalist Bellport Meetinghouse
51 Browns Road, Bellport, NY
7:00 pm
Sponsored by: Bellport Women in Black and Sayville Women in Black
For more information: Eve Sokol, 631-286-5879
Wisconsin
October 7: Memorial United Church of Christ
5705 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI
2:00 pm
“Build Peace, Build Houses, Stop Home Demolitions”
Dr. Halper will examine where the Israel/Palestine conflict is headed and how the Israeli “Matrix of Control” is shaping options on the ground. He will also discuss the Constructing Peace Campaign.
For more information: Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, rafahsistercity@yahoo.com or 608-215-9157
October 7: Forward Forum radio show
7:00 pm
Dr. Halper is scheduled to be interviewed live on the Forward Forum radio show, WTYD, 1670 AM. Call in at 321-1670. Outside of the Madison area, you can listen live on streaming audio at www.wtdy.com and there’s a toll free call-in number of 877-867-1670. There will be an archived version of the show available beginning the next day at www.wtdy.com on the podcast page.
October 8: A Public Affair radio show
12:00 pm
Dr. Halper will appear on WORT Radio’s (89.9 FM) program, A Public Affair from noon to 1 pm. Call-in at 256-2001
October 8: UW Madison Campus, Room TBA
For room location, see www.mideast.wisc.edu or call 265-6583.
7:30 pm
“Israel/Palestine: Countdown to Apartheid?”
Dr. Halper discusses whether Bush’s planned November DC “summit” on Israel/Palestine offers hope for peace or will further transform Israel’s Occupation of Palestine into a permanent political reality similar to apartheid South Africa.
Sponsored by:
Madison-Rafah Sisiter City Project
Jewish Voice for Peace/Madison
Memorial UCC
UW Middle East Studies Department
Havens Center
Texas
October 11-13: Baylor University
GoingGlobal: Interfaith Journeys on the Road to Liberation – An International Conference
Dr. Halper will be speaking on “A Prophetic Judaism of Human Rights.”
Sponsored by the Center for Jewish Studies and Latin American Studies at Baylor University.
New Jersey
October 16: Nassau Presbyterian Church
61 Nassau Street, Princeton
7:30 pm
“Seeking Peace for All in the Middle East: Resolving the Obstacle Posed by the Settlements.”
Sponsored by: The Israel/Palestine Action Group of New Brunswick Presbytery; New Jersey Israel/Palestine Education Group
For more information: Rev. Dr. Gordon Mikoski, gordon.mikoski@ptsem.edu or 609-497-7739
October 17: West Side Presbyterian Church
6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ
9:00 pm
“Seeking Peace for All in the Middle East: Resolving the Obstacle Posed by the Settlements”
Sponsored by: Social Justice Priorities Unit
For more information: Rev. Robert Smylie, rfsmylie@aol.com or 201-568-2858
Maine
October 19: University of Southern Maine, Portland
Location: TBA
7:30 pm
For more information: Bill Slavick, 207-773-6562
Massachusetts
October 21: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Sunday brunch followed by talk
11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Sponsored by: Students for Peace & Justice and Middle East Peace
For more information, haydenjmh@comcast.net
October 21: Cape Ann Forum, City Hall, Gloucester, MA
Corner of Dale Avenue & Warren Street
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
“The Key to Peace in Israel/Palestine: Dismantling the Matrix of Control”
For more information, haydenjmh@comcast.net
October 22: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Building 66, Room 110
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
“Human Rights and Politics in Israel-Palestine”
Sponsored by The MIT Program on Human Rights and Justice and the MIT Center for International Studies
October 23: Peace Abbey Conference Center
Peace Abbey, Two North Main Street, Sherborn, MA
“Human Rights: The True Road Map to Peace”
October 24: Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government
Belfer Building, Land Lecture Hall
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
“Israel/Palestine: Countdown to Apartheid”
Sponsored by KSG Palestine Awareness Committee
October 25: Workmen’s Circle
1762 Beacon St. Brookline, MA
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
“In Search of a Just Peace in Israel-Palestine: A View from the Ground”
Sponsored by JVP-Boston and Workmen’s Circle Middle East Working Group
October 26-27: Sabeel National Conference
Boston
6:00 pm: Opening remarks by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm: “The Apartheid Paradigm: How Does it Apply to Israel/Palestine?”
This panel addresses the applicability of using the apartheid model of ethnic/racial segregation in South Africa to the situation in Israel/Palestine
Speakers: Diana Buttu, John Dugard and Jeff Halper
If you were wondering where all of these local peace organizations came from, you might like to know that there are over 300 of them in the United States alone, one probably located in or close to your own community. Look them up and get involved.