People of all ages filled Room 106 in Liberal Arts 3 last Wednesday to listen to guest speaker Jeff Halper, who visited Cal State Long Beach to speak about his effort constructing and rebuilding homes in Israel.
Halper, who holds a doctorate in anthropology, is the coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD). While in Israel, he spends much of his time rebuilding demolished Palestinian homes. When he’s in the U.S. he consistently hosts lectures.
The homes he rebuilds are sometimes demolished again, but the information in his lectures continues to spread educational awareness on the tension between Israel and Palestine.
“The anthropology department hopes he will bring a perspective to campus which isn’t available through the major media,” said Ron Loewe, CSULB anthropology professor.
Halper said he has chained himself to homes set to be demolished. His fellow activists rush out to help resist the demolition teams that sometimes destroy multiple homes in a day.
According to Halper, they act not only as a hindrance to the demolition, but as attention-seekers, biding time to call journalists and diplomats.
“If people start coming out and start being public, the army retreats,” Halper said.
Halper said his efforts in Israel are micro-efforts that help in relative immediacy, yet his lectures and interviews are macro-efforts that bring attention to the demolitions.
However, he said he does not associate his work as humanitarian, but as a political act of resistance.
The center for Peace and Social Justice, the Peace Studies Program, the Anthropology department and the Muslim Student Union contributed to Halper’s appearance on campus.
Halper’s work in Israel has started an essential bridge between the Palestinian people and the Israelis.
“There are many Israelis who want to get along with the Palestinians,” said Inge Johnson, an instructor at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at CSULB and a former native to Natanya, Israel.
During his presentation, Halper even displayed photos of Israelis helping to rebuild the demolished homes.
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