All Eyes on Umm al-Khair

Dear Achvat friends and family, 

We're writing to you from Jerusalem with sadness and with hope. Even as the circumstances throughout the land remain grave, there continues to be work to be done, education to lead, and partners to stand alongside.

These past few weeks have been some of the most difficult for our friends in Umm al-Khair. Israeli military demolished 11 structures in Umm al-Khair, leaving 38 people, including 30 children, homeless. In the week after, extremist settlers harassed and attacked people in the village leading to the hospitalization of six injured women and children. In moments like these, there are few words of comfort to offer, but what we can do is show up to stand besides our partner communities when they ask us to. You can read about the incidents here and donate to Umm al Khair here. Also follow Awdah for more updates and calls to action. This catastrophic week is part of ongoing escalation of settler and military violence in the occupied territories aimed at attempted ethnic cleansing of Area C. 

After the demolitions, Around 40 activists including many Achvat alumni showed up in solidarity with Umm Al khair today to help them clear the rubble of the homes that were destroyed.

In June we said goodbye to our wonderful participants in Cohort 21, but we also have the great joy of seeing Elya in the field now as she transitions to a permanent position Storytelling Project in the South Hebron Hills after her Achvat work placement with the project during the Spring. 

Some of the participants from Cohort 21 in Umm al Khair in May

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We are now two weeks into our Summer Solidarity Cohort. Every week our participants from Cohort 22 are spending two days and an overnight working with our partners in Umm Al Khair and Tuwani. 

Cohort 22 welcome and our first work day in the Sumud Garden in Tuwan

 We're excited to see the next generation of anti-occupation activists forming relationships, learning history, and putting theory into action. We are finishing up our first learning unit on Home/Homeland and will be continuing our units or Peoplehood and Self Determination/Freedom over the next 4 weeks of programming. 

Weekly protest to end the war, stop the mass atrocities committed against the people of Gaza, and bring home the hostages

As we continue to protest for a ceasefire next to partner organizations, speak out against the ongoing atrocities committed against the people of Gaza, and stand in solidarity with our Palestinian friends in Masafer Yatta, we remind ourselves over and over that imagining and fighting for a better future is not naive — it is the only way forward. Please continue to help us spread the word about upcoming programming and bring people into the fold. Together, we'll continue to fight for justice, dignity, and self determination for all people in this land. 

In solidarity,
The Tzevet,
Solidarity of Nations Achvat Amim