Template for letter to MPs
On Sunday 27th July, along with other organisations, members of Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel/Palestine met a 31-year-old English teacher online, Awdah Hathaleen, from the South Hebron hills in the West Bank. Less than 24 hours later, he was fatally shot by a settler. His violent death feels deeply personal and distressing.
Awdah spoke to us passionately and movingly about daily life in his village, Uhm Al-Khair. He told us how violent attacks have increased since 7th October 2023; how they live in fear every day, not knowing what form the harrassment from settlers might take on any given day, but knowing that something is guaranteed to happen. He told us that the village leader was killed, a trauma that affected everyone deeply; how his wife’s hand was broken by a settler, but that despite them lodging complaints to the police, no action has been taken against the perpetrators; that Israelis “destroy your house in front of your eyes, in front of your children”; how settlers steal their farmland and therefore their livelihoods.
Awdah was a father of three young boys (5, 4 and under 1), and a steadfast believer in non-violent activism.
It appears that the settler who shot Awdah is Yinon Levi, initially charged with negligent homicide, then placed under house arrest for three days, and now released from these restrictions. Meanwhile, members of Awdah’s family were detained under military law. Typically, nothing much comes of any token charges against settlers. According to eye-witness reports, Awdah was standing in the courtyard of the community centre, some 30-50 feet from where Yinon Levi was brandishing his gun and shooting wildly.
I am asking you to urge the government not to rest until we have full results of a credible investigation into Awdah’s killing; above all, that his killer is brought before the courts and properly sentenced.
You can find out more about Awdah’s life and the circumstances surrounding his death here: https://t.ly/VaoQU.
Through his peace work, Awdah had many contacts internationally; people have been inspired by his courage and the power of his advocacy. His death must not be allowed to go unpunished.
Sincerely
[Your name]
Member of Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel/Palestine (http://pjjip.org)