Addressing Critical Issues in Israeli Society The

Addressing Critical Issues in Israeli Society

“The State of Israel…will be based on freedom, justice and peace…it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or gender…” Israel’s Declaration of Independence 5 Iyyar 5708 / 14 May 1948

What is NIF? Goals: • To protect the civil and human rights of all Israelis, • To close the social and economic gaps between Israel’s diverse communities, and • To promote religious pluralism and tolerance. Issues include Jewish-Arab equality, women’s rights, advocating for migrant workers, LGBT rights and environmental justice.

How does NIF work? 1. Grant-making 2. Capacity-building 3. Leadership Development 4. Public Advocacy Through litigation, lobbying, and community empowerment, NIF grantees have emerged as the core of Israeli civil society.

Protecting Human Rights March led by flagship NIF grantee Association for Civil Rights in Israel in 2009

Background Difficulty accessing basic rights: • Freedom of movement • Education • Health • Right to livelihood One of Israel’s greatest challenges is upholding the human rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories while maintaining Israel’s security.

Challenges Human rights abuses Water supply in the West Bank “Administrative detention” Against Israeli law Unequal treatment Lack of protection from settlers In 2011, Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din released a report revealing that out of 642 investigations by Israeli police of offenses against Palestinians, only 9% have resulted in indictments filed against defendants. Palestinians in East Jerusalem Children in East Jerusalem at a protest for equal education Photo courtesy of Association for Civil Rights in Israel

Challenges Freedom of movement and access to resources Separation barrier Difficulty reaching schools, workplaces, family or even accessing emergency healthcare NIF has not taken a stance on the existence of the separation barrier, but is working to advance human rights in this difficult context.

Against All Odds Machsom Watch Working to uphold human rights

Responding to the Challenges Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel working to protect the human rights of Palestinians in the Territories. • • Monitor security checkpoints to prevent abuse and humiliation of Palestinian civilians Petition the route of the barrier where it disproportionately affects lives Protect the rights of prisoners and detainees, including monitoring, preventing and investigating abuse Ensure that human rights standards are upheld during military operations, such as preventing the use of Palestinian civilians as “human shields” Prevent the demolition of homes of Palestinians suspected of terrorism without judicial review, and ensure compensation for homes demolished for security operations Protect Palestinians from attacks by settlers Provide legal aid to workers in Israel and Israeli settlements who have suffered from withheld payment, underpayment, confinement and/or criminal abuse, and Create public awareness amongst Israelis of human rights abuses in the Territories and of the impact of service on soldiers. Israel’s first-ever human rights march was led by flagship NIF grantee Association for Civil Rights in Israel in 2009

Making a Difference on the Ground Breaking the Silence Raising public awareness about the moral dilemmas faced by soldiers serving in the Occupied Territories B’Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories Documenting and educating the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Territories and combating the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public

How can you get involved? • Attend NIF events • Stay informed: sign up for NIF’s e-newsletter • Follow NIF on Facebook and Twitter • Join New Generations (20 s and 30 s) • See NIF on the ground: join an NIF trip to Israel • Apply for NIF fellowship programs (20 s and 30 s) www. nif. org/get-involved