Protest Research

The aChord Center is a social research organization with expertise in mapping Israeli social divides and crafting messages to overcome them. This project mapped and identified the issues and messages that could broaden the scope of participants and sharpen its effectiveness. The results were provided to civil society organizations, including the protest leaders themselves.

Litigation and Media Outreach to Protect and Defend the Human Rights of Arab Bedouin Citizens of Israel living in the Naqab (Negev)

Adalah is the leading Palestinian legal center and human rights organization based in Israel and the sole Palestinian-run organization that works before Israeli courts to protect the human rights of Palestinians in Israel. In 2023, Adalah anticipated major efforts to displace Bedouin communities in the Negev-Naqab by the central government. Legal interventions can critically delay and even prevent unfair demolitions of impoverished communities’ homes and livelihoods.

This project defended the residents of unrecognized and newly-recognized Bedouin villages through litigation and advocacy.

The Faithful Left (Smol Emuni)

In reaction to emboldened religious ultranationalists in Israel, a group of educators with roots in the National Religious, ultra-Orthodox, and other communities saw the need to counter growing extremism. “The Faithful Left” hosted an initial star-studded conference in January 2023, then continued their education. The project educated Israelis about the diversity of perspectives and peoples who identify as religious, and ultimately, to challenge extremist voices.

Protecting Social and Economic Rights

ACRI’s pursuit of economic and social justice for all is anchored in Israel’s basic law protecting human dignity. 

This project used litigation and advocacy defend the rights of citizens, residents and asylum seekers in Israel related to health, education, and the welfare system.

Educating Young People on the Occupation

Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran combatants who have served in the Israeli military since the start of the second intifada. They work to stimulate public debate about the price paid for a reality in which young soldiers rule over a civilian population and control Palestinians’ everyday lives. For most young Jewish Israelis, discussion of the occupation is absent from Israel’s education system; military service will be their first encounter with Palestinian and the reality of the occupation.

This project educated students and educators about human rights in the Occupied Territories in both formal and informal settings, such as youth group chapters and high schools.

Protecting Israeli Citizens and Democracy Online

FakeReporter exposes malicious online activity aimed at democratic systems, inauthentic influence campaigns, fraud, hate speech, incitement, conspiracies, and lies. FakeReporter exposes the mechanisms and actors behind online malicious activity, assists activists and organizations under attack, increases the accountability of tech companies and involvement of civil servants, as well as provides real time crisis response.

This project proactively combated online incitement and digital organizing by extremists by empowering the public to report and expose malicious online activity.

Educating Israelis about the Inflammatory Flag March

In reaction to the inflammatory Flag March held annually in Jerusalem, Free Jerusalem led a coalition of organizations that will raise awareness of the harm done by the march. The coalition held a demonstration in the center of Jerusalem, and members included Ir Amim, Standing Together, Breaking the Silence, Tag Meir, the Kol Haneshama congregation, Emek Shaveh, and Looking the Occupation in the Eye. This advocacy project challenged extremist voices and broadened the participation of Israelis who oppose the Flag March in its current form.

Emergency Human Rights Monitoring in Area C of the West Bank

After Israeli settlers violently rampaged in the Palestinian village of Huwara, NIFC responded to protect against further settler and military violence in Area C by funding this emergency project with Jewish-Arab human rights group Haqel. This project immediately increased monitoring, legal aid, and advocacy for Palestinian residents, particularly in the South Hebron Hills, Bethlehem area, and the northern West Bank.

Sustainability Partnerships Program

The Heschel Center for Sustainability promotes sustainable values, planning, and living for a just society. This leadership program was a collaboration between the Heschel Center, A Place for Change, and the Arava Institute that fosters long-term collaborations between progressive organizations that work in different fields. The program educated 20+ individuals from eight organizations over nine months to study social change successes around the world and to craft joint campaigns on gender equality, labor rights, religious freedom, and especially Jewish-Arab partnership.

This project developed stronger future Israeli civil society leaders through a year-long leadership program that deepened collaborations between social change groups. 

Center for Training and New Initiatives

Israel Hofsheet is the leading grassroots advocacy organization fighting for religious freedom. In 2023, Israel Hofsheet anticipated major efforts to roll back a wide swath of women’s and LGBTQ rights and to advance religious control over public spaces. Their training centre educated local-level and especially young leaders in how their city councils and municipal authorities set policy on these issues – and how the local level can be a bulwark for protecting religious freedom and gender equality.

This project trained train local and young leaders at the municipal level to protect religious freedom.

Supporting the Bereaved Families of Crime-Related Violence

The National Committee for the Arab Local Authorities in Israel is an umbrella organization of the Palestinian local authorities in Israel. It is the only organization of Palestinian citizens in Israel that enjoys legitimacy among and the cooperation of the Palestinian public and decision-makers.

In response to a year of unprecedented levels of violence in the Palestinian minority in Israel — and to a lack of government response — this project supported the families of victims by creating forums of bereaved families across the country. The forums allowed families to connect with and support each other, and to coordinate how to raise the profile of this issue.

Shatil is the operating department of NIF in Israel and is committed to fostering new civil society leaders in Israel, especially among Palestinian citizens. Within the Israeli-Arab sector, many young people are motivated – but struggle — to address skyrocketing crime, poor post-secondary opportunities, institutional discrimination, women’s equality, and more. In response, Shatil in 2022 piloted Rawabit (Connections), a year-long leadership program designed to develop young Palestinians who have the potential to lead social change from within. In addition to trainings, each participant will led a new initiative in their community.

This project developed stronger future Palestinian civil society leaders through a year-long, intensive leadership course.

Combatting Anti-Feminist Legislation in the Public Sphere

Shatil is the operating department of NIF in Israel. Shatil has been promoting women’s rights since its inception 40 years ago. In 2018, Shatil created the Forum against the Exclusion of Women, a coalition of 14 organizations from across the religious spectrum. The Forum coordinates the efforts of these leading Israeli organizations to combat the exclusion of women at public events, in the school system, within the army, in media, academia, and elsewhere in Israeli society.

This project coordinated the Forum Against the Exclusion of Women as they responded to legislation, policy changes, and public debate.