“As in the case of apartheid South Africa, a just peace will come to Israel-Palestine only from international pressures, coupled with grassroots organization and strategizing of Israelis and Palestinian together. We are having difficulties moving from a defunct two-state solution to a just and inclusive alternative,” said veteran Israeli peace and justice activist Jeff Halper in a recent interview about his nationwide campaign, organized by Canadian Christian and Jewish groups.
Halper is co-founder and director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. A retired professor of anthropology, he is also an influential analyst, having published several books, including An Israeli in Palestine, and many articles. He was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2006.
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) was founded in 1997 when it became clear that the Oslo Peace Process was leading not to peace but to a more deeply entrenched occupation. At that time, thirty years after Israel occupied the West Bank, it had demolished 9,000 Palestinian homes, mostly as a punitive measure to suppress Palestinian resistance. ICAHD has been active both on the ground, blocking bulldozers, and in the Israeli court system, in many cases stopping the demolition of specific homes. In addition, ICAHD has led the rebuilding of 187 homes at a cost of about $15,000 each. Despite ICAHD’s efforts, the number of homes demolished has risen to about 48,000.
Halper’s talks aim to raise awareness of the conflict and to advise how Canadians can serve a critical role in resolving it. He also hopes to raise funds needed to rebuild a demolished home for a Palestinian family.
More information:
United Network for Justice & Peace in Israel and Palestine www.unjppi.org
Israeli Committee Against House Demolition (ICAHD) www.icahd.org