Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
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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."[1] 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. [2] They also actively campaign against what they believe are Human rights violations and an emerging apartheid. [3]
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.
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[edit] Criticism
According to NGO Monitor, Halper is a political extremist "whose one-man NGO is also a one-theme anti-Israel organization." NGO Monitor, an organization run by former Israeli Ambassador Dore Gold, also accuses Halper of "promoting the demonization and delegitimization of Israel, as well as the campaign to brand Israel as an "apartheid state", and to replace a two-state political model with the elimination of Israel."[citation needed]
[edit] 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.([4] and [5])
[edit] 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
[edit] See also
- Peace Process in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Occupation of Palestine
- Allegations of Israeli apartheid
- Jewish Voice for Peace
- Jews Against the Occupation
- The People's Voice
- Machsom Watch
- International Solidarity Movement
- Rachel Corrie
- List of Palestine solidarity organizations