Stories

Since the start of the war, security prisoners in Israel have suffered from starvation, abuse, inhumane living conditions, lack of medical treatment, and other rights violations. PHRI, Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and other grantees have exposed these abuses, including the number of detainees and prisoners who have died in Israeli custody. A High Court petition to shut down the notorious Sde Teiman detention center led to the transfer of most of the prisoners to other facilities. ACRI and other groups continue to call for the detention center to be shut down and to create public awareness of the violations.

Israel’s High Court struck down an amendment to the “reasonableness clause” — the cornerstone of the government’s plan to overhaul the judiciary and remove basic checks and balances in Israel’s governing system—in response to a petition by the ACRI representing 38 organizations. Another bill that would have required academic institutions to fire faculty accused of expressing “supporting for terror” was blocked following intensive activity by Sikkuy-Aufoq: For a Shared and Equal Society and other NIF partners.

The focus on the war in Gaza and government support have emboldened settlers to escalate violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and drive them off their land. Shatil has launched a comprehensive program to equip anti-occupation activists with tools they need to work against this volatile environment. In many cases, the activists’ support of courageous local residents means the difference between a community being driven away or staying on their land.

Nasij (“tapestry” in Arabic), a new pilot program created by NIF and Shatil, aims to cultivate Palestinian civil society organizations and activists who can take effective action to advance rights, social change, and equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel. The program provides comprehensive support in the form of grants and capacity-building to select organizations and leaders working in NIF focus areas, such as combating the crime and violence that has devastated Palestinian-Israeli communities and addressing its root causes.

NIF’s Civil Society Protection Hub, launched last year, continues helping activists and organizations to operate safely and effectively in a climate shaped by a far right-wing government. The Hub connects individuals and NGOs that have been attacked with an array of NIF-funded services, and has helped more than 100 individuals and organizations to date. Its work has thwarted online attacks against activists; supported activists protecting Palestinians from settler violence; and pushed back against right-wing efforts to hobble progressive NGOs.

NIF more than tripled its rapid response grants pool to $1.7 million, providing grants to dozens of organizations and activists opposing the government’s extreme agenda. The grants funded different needs, including pro-democracy demonstrations across Israel; initiatives that safeguard liberal democratic values in education; efforts to protect the rights of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank; and campaigns to ensure the rights of women, asylum seekers, and the LGBTQ community.

In a victory for the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the High Court ruled that non-Jewish children adopted by Jewish couples will no longer be required to undergo strictly Orthodox conversions. In practice, this also means that non-Orthodox families will not be automatically disqualified from adopting non-Jewish children. Legal efforts and advocacy also brought about a landmark ruling allowing same-sex couples to adopt children domestically.