At the end of this month, June 24-28, Rebuilding Alliance will be bringing Alon Cohen-Lifshitz, an architect with the Israeli human rights group Bimkom: Planners for Planning Rights, and Eid Jahalin, the community spokesperson for the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al Ahmar, to Capitol Hill to speak with members of Congress. Our goal is to provide Senators and Representatives with the information and encouragement they need to take action to prevent the demolition of Khan al Ahmar. Bringing this delegation to meet with Congress is important now because on May 24th, the High Court of Israel ruled that because Khan al Ahmar does not have an approved master plan or building permits for their structures, their community can be demolished at any time. The Court also decided that the Gov't of Israel may demolish without providing a suitable alternative location for the residents.
Khan al Ahmar lies within a swath of land targeted by the State of Israel for annexation, forming a 'greater Jerusalem' area called the E1 corridor. It is located between one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank and its elite suburb. If Khan al Ahmar is forced to relocate, what happens with all the others? A precedent for forced relocation would be set, endangering all the Bedouin families who live within this area. Khan Al Ahmar is famous for its ‘tire school’ that educates 120 children from four villages. According to Human Rights Watch, 36 schools in Area C of the West Bank are at risk of demolition. Will Khan al Ahmar’s be next?
Click here to email your members of Congress to ask them to schedule a meeting with our delegation.
Since November 2017, almost 7,000 emails have been sent to Senate and House offices using our action alert system! That means that over half of Congress received emails from constituents pressing them to intervene to keep the Palestinian villages of Susiya and Khan al Ahmar standing! After emails are sent, our staff reaches out to Congressional offices to schedule a briefing, to which constituents are invited. Since 2015, when Israel's High Court first ruled that Susiya could be demolished before its case is heard, Rebuilding Alliance has held over 200 briefings on this issue, both face-to-face meetings and by teleconference).
By asking Congress to call the State Department and the Israeli Embassy on their behalf, constituents are stopping Israel's demolition of Palestinian villages, one by one. Recently, as a sad prelude to a future peace process, the Government of Israel warned entire Palestinian communities they will be demolished soon. Your support of this program helps Rebuilding Alliance expand to engage more constituents and hold more conference calls and in-person briefings with Congress to prevent demolitions. All members of Congress promise to help constituents resolve any urgent issues with U.S. agencies, but constituents must know to ask. Your donation helps constituents find their voice and saves villages.
We've brought children from Susiya and neighboring Umm al Kheir to speak to Congress three times with their visions of peace, we've brought experts to meet with the State Department and the National Security Council, and we've shared what we learned with sister organizations to press for Palestinian planning rights.
The long-term impact of a thriving community is measured in the health of its children, the ease of the parents, and a growing economy. The recognition of the human rights of a village assures its future. Speaking tours, Congressional briefings, #HeresMyVillage mapathons, our 'Evincible' mobile app, social work that starts with Pinwheels for Peace, and an international design competition - all provide effective ways to build U.S. constituent engagement to keep Palestinian communities standing.
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