Human & Civil Rights
Equality for Every Citizen and Human Rights for All
NIFC works to realize Israel’s founding ideal of complete equality for all Israeli citizens, and to protect the human rights of all under Israeli authority – including asylum seekers, migrant workers, and Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.
Over the past decade, respect in Israel for democracy and human rights has declined, both among government leaders and many segments of the public. Israel’s world ranking according to measures of rights and freedoms continues to fall.
Our strategies for this issue focus on reversing restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, which underpin vibrant public debate on all issues. A second focus aims to end over 50 years of occupation by keeping the issue on the public agenda, even when it is unpopular.
Examples of recently-funded projects include the Association for Civil Rights in Israel’s legal defense for victims of economic discrimination, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel’s medical clinic for asylum seekers and refugees, and Ir Amim’s monitoring of Palestinian human rights in East Jerusalem.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)
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. This year, safeguarding human rights in Israel is especially important following a year of attacks on democracy and civil liberties by the extremist Israeli government, attacks which have only intensified since October 7 and the consequent state of emergency. In 2024, this project will offer education and legal guidance to potentially hundreds of thousands of Israelis through ACRI’s hotline and legal assistance.
Breaking the Silence
Educating Young People on the Occupation
Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran combatants who have served in the Israeli military. 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. In 2024, this project will educate students and educators about human rights in the Occupied Territories in both formal and informal settings, such as youth group chapters and high schools.
FakeReporter
Exposing the Mechanisms Behind Malicious Online Activity
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. In 2024, this project will research online malicious activity, assist victims suffering harassment, and publish information for the public and authorities.
Yesh Din
Law Enforcement on Settler Violence
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. In 2024, this project will research online malicious activity, assist victims suffering harassment, and publish information for the public and authorities.
Strengthening NGOs’ Resilience in Times of Crisis
Photo Credit: Yossi Zamir In the aftermath of October 7th, an Israeli-Palestinian peace organization turned to Shatil, NIF's action arm, after becoming embroiled in an internal crisis. The organization’s Jewish co-CEO wanted to update the organization’s mission...
Israeli Human Rights groups say NO to Trump’s plans for Gaza
Photo Credit: UNRWA Following U.S. President Trump’s proposal to forcibly transfer millions of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, 12 Israeli human rights groups released a joint statement in opposition. Signees included NIFC project partners The Association for Civil...
Building and Blocking against Settler Violence in the West Bank
Photo Credit: Awad Al-Hathalean Our work in the West Bank has never been more crucial. Amidst historic rates of settler violence against Palestinian communities, NIF grantees are hard at work on the ground, in the courts, and even online, working to block the worst of...
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