Resisting oppression with ICAHD:
Participate the rebuilding of Beit Arabiya, home of the Shawamreh family and ICAHD’s iconic Peace Center
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) invites internationals – individuals and organizations – to join in solidarity for the fifth rebuilding of Beit Arabiya, home of Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh, during the 2012 ICAHD summer rebuilding camp.
On January 23, 2012, Israeli authorities demolished Beit Arabiya, the Abu Omar home rebuilt by ICAHD with a team of international volunteers in the summer of 2011, and structures in the East Anata Arab al-Jahalin Bedouin community, displacing 52 people including 29 children.
These figures are added to the list of more than 26,000 Palestinian structures that Israel has demolished since 1967 in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, all in violation of international law and leaving tens of thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children traumatized and homeless. In 2011, Israel demolished more than 600 structures, displacing over 1000 Palestinians – nearly twice as many as in the previous year. Israel’s policy of house demolitions and evictions is illegal under international law, and its purpose is to disenfranchise entire Palestinian communities and expropriate their land. Recent statements from the EU and UN are explicit and call for these demolitions to stop immediately. These bodies will be aware of ICAHD’s rebuilding of Beit Arabiya in July.
Since its founding in 1997, ICAHD has rebuilt 185 Palestinian homes, all done as a form of political non-violent resistance to Israel’s policy of demolishing Palestinian homes and displacing the Palestinian people. ICAHD calls for the end of the Occupation and for a solution based on justice – the only way to achieve a sustainable peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. A just solution will contribute to stability in the Middle East and the wider world.
Since 2003, hundreds of internationals have joined ICAHD’s annual summer rebuilding camp. They have worked with Palestinians and Israelis who stand side by side, refusing to be enemies, demonstrating in a powerful way that there are partners for peace.
We want the 2012 ICAHD summer rebuilding camp to demonstrate, more than ever, international outrage over Israel’s cruel policy and the growing solidarity among individuals and organizations who believe that the oppression and displacement of the Palestinian people must end.
To facilitate this, ICAHD seeks organizations that will join with us in sponsoring the rebuilding, plus individual participants who are committed to learning more about the realities on the ground so that they can return home as ambassadors for ICAHD’s message of justice for Palestinians.
Within these dates Beit Arabiya will rise from the ruins. Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh and their seven children want their home to be used not only as a peace center but also as a presentation space, telling visitors about the displacement of the Palestinian people as well as the influence of civil society in striving to create a more just outcome. The camp will end with what we hope will be a high-profile dedication ceremony, attracting the attendance of local people, dignitaries, and international representatives. News of Beit Arabiya’s rebuilding will be spread among the besieged Palestinian community to help empower them in the continuing struggle for their human rights.
Accommodations
Because of the demolition of Beit Arabiya, alternative living arrangements will be provided near the site in Anata, northeast of Jerusalem. Two large tents will be in place, one for women and one for men, and portable toilets and temporary shower blocks will be constructed. We will prepare a communal area for gathering, talks, film screenings, and a place to enjoy the delicious home-cooked Palestinian food provided by Arabiya Shawamreh as she and her husband, Salim, host the camp along with ICAHD staff.
Camp participants are expected to honor local Muslim community traditions. Internationals will be rewarded with a unique opportunity to learn something about both life under occupation and the rich heritage and cultural practices of the local people. New friendships with Israelis and Palestinians, including Bedouin from the Jahalin tribe, will form as we work together in solidarity.
The location is near the Judean Desert, so it will be hot during the day with temperatures over 86 degrees F; however, it is dry heat and evenings are usually cool. Participants need to be robust and enthusiastic about working in these conditions.
Schedule
Dates: Sunday, July 1 – Monday, July 16, 2012
In addition to the rebuilding, a full program is provided to help international participants acquire deeper understanding of the situation on the ground. Field trips allow participants to witness the reality in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and within Israel and will include outings to places such as Jerusalem and its periphery, Hebron, the Negev Desert, the Jordan Valley, and Lod. The educational aspect of the program includes: films and meetings with Palestinian and Israeli activists and experts who provide political analysis. The primary focus will be the legal position concerning house demolitions, displacement, and Israel’s Apartheid policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians both in the OPT and within Israel, although other issues will also be covered.
The cost of the 2012 camp is $1750 (American dollars) per person. The fee includes the following:
- Accommodation in tents
- Three full meals a day and beverages between meals (except during 3 free evenings when participants are away from the camp and are free to purchase food of their preference)
- All field trips and educational programs
- ICAHD materials/resources
A discounted rate $1250 (American dollars) is available for a limited number of full-time university students whose applications demonstrate their commitment to justice for Palestine.
Not included in the fee are:
- Airfare and transfer to and from Jerusalem before the start of the camp and return to the airport at the end of the camp
- Meals and beverages during free time
- Personal spending money (a wide range of Palestinian products is available and buying them helps to support the Palestinian economy)
A commitment to fund-raising is also needed because the funds collected for participation in the summer camp do not cover the cost of rebuilding. Therefore we strongly encourage participants to engage their local communities (professional bodies, religious communities, trade unions, etc.) to raise funds for rebuilding, and we hope that a minimum target of $1000 (American dollars) per participant can be achieved.
ICAHD is known internationally as a leading peace and human rights organization that has observer status at the UN. ICAHD seeks participants who are committed to using the information learned to counter Israel’s Occupation policies. ICAHD reframes the conflict from a human rights perspective and believes that greater involvement from civil society is necessary to achieve progressive change in the Middle East. This is why we seek participants who are committed to using the knowledge and analysis gained during the camp to educate their professional bodies and other networks.
The ICAHD summer rebuilding camps have been an annual event since 2003, and since then hundreds of internationals have participated in what for many has been a life-changing experience. Recommendations include Clare Short, former British MP and ICAHD UK patron:
“I participated in the camp because I am a great admirer of ICAHD’s work so I wanted to experience the reality of the work on the ground. Whilst there I was surprised and impressed by the quality of the visits which were arranged for various afternoons. I have visited the Occupied Territories often and follow the situation quite closely but still learned a lot by actually seeing more of the reality on the ground.”
ICAHD hopes that you will help make the 2012 summer rebuilding camp the most significant to date.
All those interested in joining the camp are invited to complete an application form. Please contact:
For the USA and Canada, email: summercamp@icahdusa.org
Applicants invited to participate in the 2012 ICAHD summer rebuilding camp will take part in two, 2-hour webinars prior to travel and will receive a recommended reading list to familiarize themselves with issues.
Deadline for the first round of application forms is March 15, 2012.
Download application here: 2012 Summer Camp Application (docx, 147.82 kB)
