Formed in 1997 as a direct action collective, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) was dedicated to seeking a just resolution for Palestinians and Israelis. Towards this end, ICAHD focused on Israel’s policy of demolishing Palestinian homes as a vehicle for exposing how the Occupation works. Originally based in Jerusalem and led by Co-Founder Jeff Halper, ICAHD evolved into an organization with six regional centers that together resist Israeli policies and practices on the ground, conduct political tours and lectures, and provide critical analysis and mobilize partners for a just resolution in Palestine-Israel and abroad.

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions-USA (ICAHD-USA) was born in 2004 of this international ICAHD network. We operate as a critical Israeli voice in the United States, expanding our global advocacy efforts as we continue to support amplify resistance in Palestine-Israel.

ICAHD-USA Board of Directors

Michael Spath, Chair, is the Executive Director of the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, a member of the Global Kairos for Justice Coalition and the United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Networ

Kenneth Boas, holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California. He teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and is a visiting scholar at the Humanities Center, University of Pittsburgh.  Ken has a rich history of activism and community involvement and was on the board of directors of the Thomas Merton Center. He is a member of the Pittsburgh BDS Coalition.

Dick Platkin, Treasurer, teaches sustainable city planning at USC. In the 1970s he was a student in Jerusalem, where he met ICAHD co-founder Jeff Halper through political activities.  After that, in Seattle and Los Angeles, he participated in anti-war organizations and was a union officer.  In response to Israel’s attack on Gaza in 2006, he helped found L.A. Jews for Peace, a Los Angeles-based organization that focuses on US foreign policy in the Middle East, especially Israel-Palestine. 

Lori Rudolph is a Fulbright Scholar and an associate professor of counseling at New Mexico Highlands University, she has spent extended periods of time in the West Bank as a mental health consultant and professor.  She taught at two Universities, Al Quds and Bethlehem University and has lived in Dheisheh Refugee Camp where she worked with the Ibdaa Cultural Center.  Sparked by the Sabra and Shatila massacre she has been actively involved since 1982, and co-founded various activist groups in Albuquerque, NM and served on Jewish Voice for Peace’s national coordinating committee for the TIAA –CREF campaign for two years.

Sue Dravis

Robert Herbst

Thomas Abowd

Salsi Salama

 

Our Sister Branches

ICAHD-UK

ICAHD UK was launched in the Houses of Parliament in June 2004. It invites supporters to join as members and uses ICAHD resources and analysis to promote the work of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions through:

  • Educating, informing, and disseminating information to the UK public on the situation on the ground in Palestine and the state of Israel, specifically any activities that may affect the achievement of a just and sustainable peace.

  • Empowering and encouraging a membership to campaign and advocate to people of all levels of influence, and through their own networks to help build a movement for change in Israel and Palestine amongst UK leaders and citizens.

  • Advocating and campaigning in support of human rights in both Israel and Palestine.

  • Raising money for ICAHD’s work.

Conferences and workshops are held on an annual basis to help equip supporters to be more effective campaigners when using ICAHD’s information, analysis and resources.

ICAHD UK works collaboratively with many other organizations, including faith groups, and participates in events such as local and regional meetings, conferences, festivals, demonstrations and the annual Palestine Lobby Day in British parliament.

Contact ICAHD-uk

 

ICAHD-GERMANY

ICAHD Germany was founded in June 2013 as the German section of ICAHD, the Israeli Organization. Because of Germany’s past, very little information is published that is critical of Israel’s policy  and its Human Rights violations in the Occupied Territories. Thus the main objectives of our organization are:

  • Spreading of information in Germany about what is happening in Palestine, in particular about house demolitions, displacements and the destruction of the infrastructure of Palestinians

  • Lobbying German governmental and political institutions with respect to the question of the Palestinians

  • Translating analyses of the political situation in Palestine published by ICAHD

  • Promoting participation in tours and re-building camps carried out by ICAHD

  • Encouraging people to donate to ICAHD

  • Organizing tours for ICAHD speakers to inform the German public

Contact ICAHD-Germany

 

ICAHD-FINLAND

ICAHD Finland is a politically independent and unaligned organisation founded in Finland in September 2009. The main objective of our organization is to spread out information about Finland’s connections in Israel/Palestine, and to help inform others on the current situation and the history of the Israel/Palestine conflict. The organization publishes material produced by its members, translates foreign-language material to Finnish, organizes informative events, and runs campaigns about the importance of international law and its relevancy to the Israeli occupation. In addition, ICAHD Finland maintains active, daily relations to Israel and the Occupied Territories, and brings Palestinian and Israeli dignitaries to Finland.

 

Australians for Human Rights in Palestine (AHRP)

AHRP is a non-profit organization incorporated in 2015, operating as ICAHD’s official affiliate in Australia and New Zealand. AHRP aims to educate the public on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, promoting ICAHD’s analysis and study programs that disrupt how the issues are represented in local mainstream media and political discourse. We identify Australian and New Zealander linkages to Israel’s illegal practices, and thus aim to pressure all parties involved to meet their non-negotiable obligations under the Geneva Conventions and international law. Our activities include:

  • Publishing materials to inform on the current situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), and its relevance to human rights and international law.

  • Organising and partaking in speaking tours, conferences and forum panels.

  • Contributing to campaigns that target local linkages to violations of human rights and international law in Israel and the OPT.

  • Promoting the activities and achievements of ICAHD chapters worldwide, and supporting ICAHD in the dissemination of its research and study programs.

  • Lobbying local politicians and institutions on the stated issues.

  • Engaging with other local Israel-Palestine related peace and justice groups to coordinate a unified goal for a just and viable peace in Palestine.