Impact

NIF is supporting a new project to expand outreach to LGBTQ ultra-Orthodox individuals who often lack acceptance within their communities. Organizations involved in the project include the New Haredim and three religious LGBTQ organizations: Bat-Kol – Religious Lesbian Organization, Havruta – Religious Gay Community, and Shoval: Education and Tolerance. Shatil is supporting the initiative by connecting Haredi activists and leaders with these organizations. And in response to a petition by PHRI and other organizations, Israel’s Supreme Court in August instructed the government to clarify why it has refused to grant work permits to LGBTQ Palestinians seeking political asylum in Israel.

The High Court ruled in March 2021 that conversions by the Reform and Conservative Movements in Israel will qualify Jews by choice to receive oleh (immigrant) status and Israeli citizenship, in accordance with the Law of Return. This ruling marked the end of a 15-year legal battle by NIF grantee Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) against Orthodox control over who qualifies as a Jew for the purpose of Israeli citizenship.

Following a successful petition filed by ACRI and ASSAF – Aid Organization for Refugees & Asylum Seekers in Israel, children of asylum seekers and migrant workers in Petah Tikva received kindergarten placements for the 2021-2022 school year after long being denied permission to enroll.

In March 2021, following a Regional Council of Unrecognized Villages-led petition to the government, the unrecognized village of Hashem Zaneh received government approval for setting up mobile kindergarten and school units in the village—a major milestone in the recognition process. Bimkom: Planners for Planning Rights and Shatil were essential partners for Hashem Zaneh throughout the years-long process.

NIF continues working to keep the occupation on the public agenda and to safeguard the rights of Palestinians living under Israeli rule in the West Bank. NIF recently approved an emergency grant to Haqel: In Defense of Human Rights to fund a 24/7 hotline for residents of the South Hebron Hills, who have been subjected to intensified settler violence in recent months.

FakeReporter, which launched with NIF support this year, worked to report and disrupt extremist groups on social media platforms. Their reporting led to the closure of dozens of Telegram and WhatsApp groups created to incite violence. Additionally, NIF grantees IRAC, Citizens’ HQ, and Mehazkim succeeded in petitioning for the deplatforming of extremist organization Lehava and leaders Michael Ben Ari and Baruch Marzel.