Litigation and Media Outreach to Protect and Defend Human and Social Rights in Israel

ACRI is the leading organization protecting human and social rights in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The current, extremist Israeli government might exploit the state of emergency since horrific attacks by Hamas on October 7^th in order to curtail fundamental civil liberties, such as freedom of expression and assembly, public housing, prisoners’ rights, and stateless women victims of intimate partner violence. In 2024, ACRI’s hotline fielded 2,400 calls seeking legal advice and support.

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. In 2024, NIFC’s project educated students and educators about human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in both formal and informal settings, such as youth group chapters and high schools.

Assistance to Bedouin Villages in the Negev

Bimkom–Planners for Planning Rights strengthens democracy and human rights in the field of special planning and housing policies in the Negev for the 100,000 citizens living in unrecognized Bedouin villages. The Gaza war has taken a particular toll on these communities: they suffered deaths and kidnappings by Hamas on October 7^th; have neither bomb shelters nor warning sirens; and suffer lack of access of healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid since. NIFC’s 2024 project provided updated research underlying long-term solutions for these unrecognized communities, along with direct assistance to specific villages towards achieving their social and economic rights.

Aiding and Protecting Civil Society in Israel

The Civil Society Protection Hub serves as a clearinghouse for responding to attacks against individuals or NGOs and connects them to an array of NIF-funded services including legal aid, media and public relations support, enhanced cybersecurity, security support, and psychological support.

Exposing the Mechanisms Behind Malicious Online Activity

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. In 2024, NIFC’s project with FakeReporter responded to 2,500 public inquiries and conducted 50 studies on foreign influence, hate speech, and online violence against civil society activists. They uncovered smear campaigns against hostage families and launched Arabic-language channels to become the first in the Middle East to combat disinformation in both Hebrew and Arabic.

Integrated Legal Work for Ensuring the Work and Protection of Human Rights Defenders

HRDF remains committed to supporting and protecting human rights defenders facing legal and physical threats in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In 2024, NIFC’s project with HRDF provided vital legal aid, strategic litigation, and advocacy to safeguard human rights activists and challenged systemic efforts to suppress human rights work.

Advancing Religious Freedom Through Congregational Education

IRAC advances religious diversity and defends freedom of religion in Israeli society. Local municipalities control many issues related to the religious freedom of Israelis, such as land and budgets for synagogues, women’s images, gender segregation, LGBTQ+ communities, burial plots, public transportation on Shabbat, education in schools, and more. In 2024, NIFC’s project expanded religious freedom and choice by providing research and advice to local communities and their municipal authorities.

The Day After Task Force

Mitvim–The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies is a foreign policy think tank established in 2011 with the mission to promote a progressive paradigm shift Israel’s foreign policy. As Israelis seek alternatives to the catastrophic failures of their government’s security and military policies on October 7^th, Mitvim provides answers to resolving the underlying conflict with new regional allies. In 2024, NIFC’s project conducted research and provide analyses on promoting peace and security after the October 7^th attack.

Tzameret-Kama: Advancing Women as Leaders in Social Change Organizations

Shatil is the operating department of NIF in Israel and has been promoting women’s rights since its inception 40 years ago. Today in Israel, women staff are the majority within social change organizations but are only the minority in leadership roles. In 2022, Shatil developed a three-month leadership program called Tzameret-Kama for Arab and Jewish women currently in middle-management positions. In 2024, NIFC’s project convened a second Tzamaret-Kama course for 18 Arab and Jewish middle-management civil society leaders looking to advance into more senior roles.

Now and the Day After Education

Sikkuy-Aufoq is an established NGO which has been advancing equality and partnership between Jews and the Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel for the past 30 years. Since the horrors of October 7^th and the subsequent war in Gaza, Sikkuy-Aufoq has focused on advising public institutions with mixed Jewish-Arab populations – such as municipalities, health services, universities – with emergency actions that can preserve Arab-Jewish relations. In 2024, NIFC’s project focused on repairing Arab-Jewish relations by providing research and advice to decision makers in public institutions, especially education.

NIFC’s Campaign to Address Humanitarian Needs in Gaza

NIFC raised urgent funds to provide humanitarian aid including food and clean water to civilians suffering in Gaza through the World Central Kitchen (WCK) as part of NIF’s global campaign raising $1.5 million. In 2024, NIFC raised more than $42,000 for WCK’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

Seeking Accountability for Settler Violence

Yesh Din is an Israeli human rights organization working to end the occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to provide legal assistance to Palestinians whose rights were violated. A sharp escalation of violence committed by settlers and security forces in recent years threatens to escalate into further lawlessness. In 2024, NIFC’s project improved accountability for settler violence through documenting events in the field, representing victims in court, and providing research to policymakers.