Civil & Human Rights
Israel’s Declaration of Independence says: “Israel will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or gender; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.” NIF supports groups and projects working to fulfil this vision. From women’s and LGBT rights, to the relationship between synagogue and state, to protecting the rights of Jewish and non-Jewish minorities, NIF has founded, funded, trained or otherwise supported every significant human and civil rights organisation in Israel.
Halting Forced Evictions
The Knesset Economics Committee agreed to suspend the eviction of some 1,090 Israeli families from public housing in Israel after intervention by the Forum for Public Housing with an emergency grant from NIF.
December 2021
Dimona’s Hebrew Israelites Threatened With Expulsion
To raise awareness of Israeli government plans to expel 51 members of Dimona’s Hebrew Israelite community, NIF has produced a video clip (see below) of the community’s prodigious musical talent. Their appeal against the expulsion was recently dismissed by Israel’s authorities.
October 2021
Hundreds Protest Settler Violence and Lack of Water in Hebron Hills
Hundreds of Israelis came to the South Hebron Hills last weekend to protest settler violence and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian villagers in the region. The rally was held at the Palestinian village of Mafkara where masked settlers rampaged on Simchat Torah, hurling rocks at villagers. The settlers threw a rock at a three-year-old boy, leaving him hospitalized with a fractured skull and internal bleeding. So far, six settlers and Jerusalem residents have been arrested while two Palestinians were arrested for attacking soldiers.
October 2021
Victory for LGBTQ Families
In mid-July, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled the surrogacy ban on same-sex couples and single men unconstitutional and ordered the state to lift it within six months. The court rejected the government’s claim that passing a law allowing surrogacy for same-sex couples and single men was politically ‘unfeasible.’
July 2021