ICAHD Co-Director's Jeff Halper and Itay Epshtain attended the UN International Meeting in Support of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process in Brussels

3 July 2011, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions ICAHD (Israel)

ICAHD Co-Director's Jeff Halper and Itay Epshtain attended the UN International Meeting in Support of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process in Brussels last week, to promote the role of Europe in advancing a viable Palestinian state. The viability of the two-State solution, the Arab Peace Initiative and the effectiveness of the Quartet’s Road Map in bringing about a just and lasting settlement of the Middle East conflict — along with Europe’s role in reaching that goal — were examined at the meeting.

ICAHD call for international civil society mobilization for an urgent resolution of the conflict, delivered by Co-Director Itay Epshtain, was noted by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. While in Brussels, Halper and Epshtain met with civil society organizations and activists to further highlight the urgency of international solidarity.

Record number of children displaced by West Bank demolitions

•UNRWA announces record high figures relating to West Bank demolitions
•Launches new web initiative to document demolitions
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

9 June 2011, Jerusalem

The United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, has released its latest monthly figures relating to the Israeli practice of demolitions and forced demolitions in the West Bank, which show a record number of children displaced. “Demolitions saw 67 children displaced in May, the highest monthly figure so far this year,” said UNRWA spokesman, Chris Gunness, “64 in Area C and 3 in East Jerusalem.”

Under the Israeli zoning policy in the occupied Palestinian territory, Palestinians are allowed to build in just 13 per cent of occupied East Jerusalem and 1 per cent of Area C in the West Bank, which are already heavily built up. “Palestinians are refused permits and are forced to build illegally. They then suffer the humiliation either of having the Israeli authorities destroy their homes, or are forced to destroy their homes themselves and foot the bill,” said Gunness. “Children often watch with their parents as their homes are demolished. A house is a place of safety and comfort for most children around the world. A home demolished is a future destroyed.”

UNRWA figures show that 304 adults and children were displaced or affected by demolitions in the West Bank. “The figure for displaced and affected includes people who were not necessarily displaced by demolitions, but who were affected because some vital facility, like a water system, was destroyed,” explained Gunness. “Under international law, Israel must ensure that persons under its jurisdiction enjoy the fulfilment of their human rights, including the right to housing, health, education, and water. UNRWA calls on Israel to respect its legal obligations.”

At the same time, UNRWA has announced a new web initiative to monitor demolitions. Read full details of demolitions with all the latest figures.

- ENDS -

For more information please contact:
Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org

Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org

THE TRIAL: RACHEL CORRIE’S PARENTS SPEAK AT THE AICAFE

8 May 2011, Alternative Information Center (AIC) Israel http://www.alternativenews.org

Please join us at the AICafe on Tuesday 10 May at 7pm as Craig and Cindy Corrie, the parents of martyred American peace activist Rachel Corrie, speak about their current lawsuit against the Israeli army and their efforts to promote the work of their daughter in struggling for Palestinian rights and a just peace.


Activist Rachel Corrie was killed by an Israeli military bulldozer on 16 March 2003 when attempting to halt the demolition of Palestinian homes in Gaza's Rafah Refugee Camp.

Additional information about Rachel Corrie and the work of her family may be found on rachelcorriefoundation.org.

We hope you will join us!

The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10pm. It is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha’ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center ). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which critically analyze both the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the conflict itself.