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.
Uncovering the Human Toll of the Gaza Blockade
Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip over the past 15 years has had disastrous effects on the lives and health of its Palestinian residents, Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) reports.
August 2022
Fighting for Equitable Building Rights
The first-ever comprehensive research report on building in Arab areas in Israel found that 30,000 homes in Arab Israeli towns and villages are in danger of being demolished due to a lack of legal building permits enabling new construction. The report by Sikkuy-Aufoq – The Association for the Advancement of Civic Equality and The Arab Center for Alternative Planning (ACAP) found that 130,000 Arab Israelis live under the threat of having their homes destroyed by Israeli authorities.
August 2022
Exposing Dangerous Data Breaches
An investigation by NIF grantee FakeReporter has uncovered a breach in the Strava app, an app for tracking physical activity and exercise. The breach exposed dozens of Israeli security personnel and soldiers at sensitive intelligence and air force bases.
July 2022
Mothers Standing Up for the Right to Protest
Anybody attending a demonstration in Israel in recent months might have noticed the presence of a number of women in yellow vests. These activists belong to the burgeoning group, Wall of Mums, a new movement that received an emergency grant from NIF last year. The organisation was formed in the wake of the Balfour protests against government corruption under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The new movement’s mission is “to protect the demonstrators against police violence — in particular young people,” said 59-year-old Hamutal Guri, one of the organization’s founders and a veteran social change activist.
March 2022