Shared Society and Combating Racism
Fostering a Shared Society
NIF works to advance a society in Israel that is truly shared among its residents, one in which every Israeli has an equal stake. We are committed to combating racism and protecting minorities from discrimination.
The deepest rift in Israeli society is between Jewish and Palestinian citizens (sometimes called Israeli Arabs). This is rooted in strong national identities and exacerbated by the greater conflict between Israel and its neighbors, the prolonged occupation, and accelerating ultra-nationalist and racist political trends. In addition, there are troubling disconnects and enmities between Jewish sectors of the public.
But despite the common emphasis on conflict, there are many areas of cooperation -- microcosms throughout Israel that might “scale up” to the national level. There is also growing public awareness of the phenomenon of racism, and new opportunities for shared society-building through networking, community organizing, advocacy and litigation.
Our approach stresses the advantages of social diversity, strengthens moderating voices, and builds places for intercultural encounter that can deepen bonds and prevent escalation.
Bridge the Divide: Building Jewish-Arab Partnership In a Time of Crisis
Jewish-Arab partnership is critical to Israel’s moral fabric and to a democratic future based on equality for all its citizens. In the wake of the recent crisis, NIF is redoubling our investing in initiatives that foster Jewish-Arab cooperation, combat racism and extremism, and advance public legitimacy for Jewish-Arab partnership, and which bring representatives of the Palestinian community in Israel into local and national decision-making.
Bridge the Divide
Jewish-Arab partnership is critical to Israel’s moral fabric, to its democratic future, and any hope of Israel fulfilling its founding vision — one based on equality for all Israelis and Palestinians. That has been a focus of our work for decades.
Combatting Police Targeting of Palestinian Activists in Israel
Two NIF grantees have launched campaigns to end the systematic targeting and arrest of Arab-Israeli activists across Israel.
Demonstrating for Peace
Palestinians and Jews formed a ring around Jerusalem Old City Walls, standing hand in hand, in a demonstration organized by Tag Meir and Women Wage Peace.