The William S. Goldman Truth to Power Prize
Former NIF Board Member William S. Goldman
The William S. Goldman Truth to Power Award is awarded annually to individuals that stand up for truth and give voice to the silenced, often at great personal, organizational, financial or reputational risk.
Founded in 2018, the Truth to Power Foundation is a wholly controlled supporting organization of the New Israel Fund established to honor the memory of beloved NIF Board member William S. Goldman. Bill was a cherished part of the NIF community, and a bold supporter of progressive values in the public sphere. On the day of Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017, when so many in our camp were teetering on the edge of despair, Bill proclaimed these bold words:
“Now is our moment, in our millions, to demonstrate the courage of our convictions, to push back constantly against the waves of darkness. It will not be fun. It will not be easy. But it will be done, and we will be the ones to do it. Let us escape from our complacent lives, let us overcome our fear and our terror. Let us give our lives lasting meaning beyond what we believed possible. We did not choose to be alive at this time of great upheaval. This time chose us, and we turn, our shoulders squared, to meet it."
This award seeks to honor Bill's memory and honor the activists that chose to fight for a brighter tomorrow day in and day out.
Adi Argov, 2025 Winner
Adi Argov is an Israeli activist who has made it her mission to bring the images of innocent civilians suffering in Gaza to mainstream Israeli audiences. Argov is the founder and director of the Daily File, a tri-lingual website (Hebrew, Arabic, and English) she launched in 2020 that systematically documents harm done to Palestinians, particularly children, in Gaza. The goal is public education: to bring images and information to the Israeli public that they would not encounter in mainstream media outlets.
She was quoted by the Washington Post in an in-depth feature about the leaders of Israel’s anti-war protests. “This war is a war of denial,” Argov told the Post, but the protests—where Israelis stood, silently, holding photos of children who had been killed in Gaza—“felt like there was a light in the darkness,” she said, "like we were finally standing with humanity.”
Argov, a 59-year-old clinical psychologist, mother, grandmother, and long-time political activist, receives no compensation for her work verifying and posting information about the harm being done to Palestinians, especially children. Argov began the Daily File in 2020, but since October 7 and the war in Gaza, Argov’s site has gained popularity as one of the most comprehensive and consistent data sources in Israel. It has become a tool for journalists, researchers, and activists in Israel and abroad, offering reliable and up-to-date information largely excluded from mainstream media. Argov documents daily incidents of violence, clashes, home demolitions, and human rights violations in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The prize committee said of their decision: “In the face of silencing, fear, and alienation—Adi provides chilling fragments of truth, consistently, precisely, and with sensitivity. She creates a visible, tangible reality that challenges the wall of denial, confronting powerful political and media forces, at real personal risk.”
Alongside her work, Argov has faced severe personal attacks; she was slandered by the far-right organization Im Tirtzu, her personal details were exposed in a doxxing attack. Despite all of this, Argov, driven by a deep sense of mission, continues her work.
This prize will enable Argov to expand the project’s activities to ensure the existence of an independent, moral, and responsible voice in Israel’s public sphere.
Past Truth to Power Prize Winners
Einav Zangauker, 2024 Winner
Einav Zangauker is a prominent figure in the protests by the families of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the conflict that began on October 7, 2023. Her 24-year-old son, Matan Zangauker, is among those held captive in Gaza. Einav has been vocal in her criticism of the Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for not doing enough to secure the release of the hostages.
She has fearlessly taken on the Israeli government, challenging its approach to hostage negotiations and demanding more transparency and urgency in securing the release of her son and others held captive. Central to Einav’s advocacy is her call for a ceasefire and her involvement in negotiating deals for the exchange and release of hostages.
Einav’s impact extends beyond her immediate circumstances; she has galvanized public opinion, bringing together diverse groups to push for the safe return of the hostages. Despite facing backlash from some quarters, including being labeled a “criminal” by the prime minister’s supporters, Einav remains undeterred, continuing to speak truth to power.
She stands as a beacon of hope for all those who seek justice and freedom in the face of adversity, and as a symbol for the righteous cause of demanding the return of the hostages.
Nasser Nawaj'ah, 2023 Winner
As a field researcher and lifelong activist, Nasser has been instrumental in recording the many human rights abuses committed by the Israel Defense Forces and settlers around Hebron. For his efforts, he has been targeted repeatedly by settlers and the Shin Bet (Israel’s domestic intelligence agency), and arrested without charges many times.
Despite this harassment, Nasser has never given up—or given in. Even after being arrested and threatened by the Shin Bet to “stop causing trouble,” he has refused. He is a thorn in the side of the Occupation and those who seek to perpetuate its violence.