Human Rights and Democracy
A Just Society at Peace with Itself and Its Neighbors
NIF works to transform Israel’s founding ideal of complete equality for all into reality, and to protect the human rights of all people living under Israel’s control.
Over the past decade, respect for democracy and human rights has declined, both among government leaders and the Israeli public. These values are too frequently derided as illegitimate or are distorted to mean unbridled majority rule. The ultra-nationalist right continues to propose legislation and policies to curtail freedom of expression.
NIF’s program is designed to advance pro-democracy values and their expression in Israel’s public life, safeguard human and civil rights—particularly in the occupied territories—and strengthen public trust in and support for democratic rights and values.
Our program focuses first on preserving freedom of speech, a right that is the mainspring for other democratic values, by empowering activists with the information they need about their own rights and protecting those rights in court. Our second focus, safeguarding democratic institutions and processes, aims to counter legislative threats to democracy while developing mechanisms for public participation and transparency. And finally we invest in partners who remind Israelis of the human, social, and economic cost of the occupation, as well as those attempting to bring equity and social justice to all the residents of Jerusalem.
High Court of Justice Warns State on Incitement
Last Wednesday, the High Court of Justice demanded an explanation form the state as to why it has not indicted rabbis Yitzhak Shapira and Yosef Elitzur for their authorship of the highly controversial book Torat Hamelech.
Knesset Raises Minimum Age of Marriage
In a victory for the rights of Arab and ultra-Orthodox women, the Knesset has raised the minimum age of marriage from 17 to 18. The amendment to the 1950 Age of Marriage Law passed its final vote with 55 in favor and 11 against. The vote follows a ten-year campaign by NIF grantee the Working Group for Equality in Personal Status Issues. Previously, religious parties had managed to prevent this legislation from being implemented.