Israel cannot be a strong democracy unless Jewish and Palestinian citizens have an equal stake in its future. 

Shared society means more than bringing people together. It means building lasting partnerships between Jewish and Palestinian citizens, strengthening leadership in both communities, and equipping people with the tools to tackle the issues that affect their lives together. 

At a time of war, political division and deep mistrust, this work is difficult. It is also more important than ever. 

Shared society in numbers 

• Tens of thousands joined the January 2026 Arab-Jewish demonstration against crime and violence led by NIF partners. 
• 1 million+ views for a campaign drawing attention to violence in Palestinian communities.
• 12 regions across Israel are part of Tzedek Centres’ shared society network. 
• 500+people attended Givat Haviva’s 2026 Shared Society Conference.

Together against crime and violence 

One of the clearest examples of shared society came at the beginning of 2026. Crime and violence in Palestinian communities had reached devastating levels. In 2025 alone, 252 Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed, the deadliest year on record. Another 27 people were killed in the first month of 2026 alone. 

NIF and our partners helped turn growing anger and grief into collective non-violent action. 

See for yourself.

On 31 January, tens of thousands of Jewish and Palestinian citizens took to the streets of Tel Aviv to demand action. NIF partners played a central role in bringing people together. 

See for yourself.

A video by Have You Seen the Horizon Lately? highlighting children killed by violence reached more than one million people on Instagram. The movement continued to grow. Thousands joined actions in more than 50 locations across the country, and Arab and Jewish local leaders began working together on ways to confront the crisis. 

“Democracy is for everyone — or it simply is not democracy.” 

Nasreen Haddad Haj Yahya, Vice President, New Israel Fund 

See for yourself. 

Building partnership in everyday life 

Shared society is not built only in moments of crisis. Across Israel, NIF partners create opportunities for Jewish and Palestinian citizens to work together on the practical issues that shape their communities. 

Tzedek Centres, for example, brings local residents together to address shared challenges and build local leadership. Its shared society network now operates across 12 regions. 

In the Negev, AJEEC-NISPED brought together 120 children from the Bedouin village of Rahma and the Jewish town of Yerucham, along with their families, for shared activities, discussions, music, and food. These encounters help young people form relationships across difference at a time when opportunities to do so are increasingly rare. 

And in early 2026, more than 500 people joined Givat Haviva’s annual Conference for a Shared Society, bringing together educators, researchers and public figures to consider how Arab-Jewish partnership can be strengthened in education, politics and the economy. 

Why NIF? 

NIF has spent decades building relationships across Israeli civil society. That means we can support long-term work while also responding quickly when a moment of possibility or crisis arises. 

We work with Palestinian-led organisations, Arab-Jewish movements, educators, local leaders and community organisations. We help them grow stronger individually and work more effectively together. 

Because meaningful partnership is not created by one event or one organisation. It is built over time, in classrooms, neighbourhoods, local authorities and national movements. 

This Rosh Hashanah, help build an Israel where Jewish and Palestinian citizens can shape their future together. 

There is no democracy without shared society.
And there is no democracy without you.