The Purpose of the Sumud Freedom Tour
This is our moment of unity, of coalition building
Mission
Holy Land Trust and Nonviolence International have partnered to develop a multilayered tour of peace and justice work in Israel and Palestine.
This tour unpacks the broad range of nonviolent resistance methods employed by Palestinians and their co-resisters throughout the region and internationally. From December 21, 2017 to January 3, 2018, you will meet with leaders of grassroots organizations, NGO’s, and agents of change in the community who are actively engaged in challenging the systems underpinning Israel’s prolonged military occupation.
This tour is designed for social activists who are committed to deepening their analysis of global oppression. Whether you are engaged in the movement for black liberation, entrenched in the battle for immigrant rights, or fighting for women’s equality, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can serve as an important theoretical and practical framework for nonviolent resistance.
This program is designed to promote an exchange of ideas between movements. Those who have little or no background in the history of the Palestinian struggle are encouraged to join, as the intersections between our movements will allow us to relate to and better understand one another. And as a result, this tour will help us lay the foundation for necessary relationships that lead to broad, diverse coalitions of change.
Help us support Um al-Khair
Um al-Khair is just one of the many Palestinian villages facing an existential threat as a result of Israel’s ongoing occupation and colonization of the West Bank. The people of Um al-Khair have called up Holy Land Trust and Nonviolence International to mobilize global support in their efforts to safeguard the rights to their land and uphold universally recognized human rights.
Part of the strategy of building a broad movement of support for Um al-Khair is recruiting a diverse cross-section of social rights activists to advocate on behalf of Palestinian rights. In issuing this call, there has been an expiring response from the world community of people willing to leave their homes and donate their time and energy in supporting vulnerable and oppressed. However, some of the activists are not able to shoulder the full financial commitment of travel and accommodations while working in Um al-Khair. Others said they don’t have time to come this winter, but are happy to give tangibly to the pursuit of peace and justice. We are asking you also to step into this space and donate to movement of to support the people of Um al-Khair.
More about Um al-Khair
The people of Um al-Khair have a long history of displacement. In 1948, Bedouin communities were driven off their land during the establishment of the State of Israel. One of these communities, the Hathaleen tribe, was forcibly transferred from their historical lands in al-Arad to the West Bank, eventually settling in the South Hebron Hills. EidSuliman purchased lands from the nearby community of Yatta for 100 camels in the village of Um al-Khair. While the State of Israel recognizes this purchase, Um al-Khair, situated in Area C of the West Bank, is unable to exercise self-determination of their land or resources. In the 1995 Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed to the temporary division of the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem) into three areas: A, B, and C. In Area C, Israel retained full control over security and planning and zoning, as well as other aspects related to ‘territory’. As Israel maintains effective control of community development, only 1.5% of the some 400,000 Palestinians living in Area C are issued building permits for their homes. As a result, communities are often forced to build without the authorization of the occupying military power.
Since 2007, according to OCHA, Um al-Khair, home roughly to 850 people, has had the Israeli Civil Administration in conjunction with the Israeli Defense Forces, enter their village and destroy homes, community infrastructure, and cooking facilities on 20 different occasions. Referencing OCHA data, just since 2011, some 32 structures have been destroyed in Um al-Khair, affecting 214 people, the vast majority of children. In addition to the massive loss of infrastructure, the village of Um al-Khair is under impending land annexation from the nearby Israeli settlement of Karmel. Established in the 1980s, Israeli approved expansion plans for Karmel which almost completely encircle the village of Um al-Khair, effectively cutting of natural grazing lands for the tribe’s herds — their main source of income. Furthermore, the close proximity to the illegal settlement has resulted in routine settler attacks. Focused local and international support for this community is essential for mitigating the immediate impact of Israel’s military occupation as well as ensuring their ability to stay on their lands long-term.
Who we are
Holy Land Trust is a Palestinian Non-Profit Organization (NGO), located in the heart of Bethlehem on Star Street. Our work is centered on strengthening communities to empower them to find nonlinear solutions to problems; solutions which are rooted in social justice, compassion, and love.
Nonviolence International (NI) is a decentralized network of resource centers that promote the use of nonviolent action. Founded by Palestinian activist Mubarak Awad in 1989, NI is a 501(c)(3) organization registered in Washington, DC, USA. NI is also a non-governmental organization in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
