-
Leading the Fight for Democracy
Following the election of Israel’s extremist, rightwing government, NIF grantees spearheaded the pushback against the government’s radical agenda. With NIF support, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad-Naqef Ma’an), and Mehazkim fought against anti-democratic legislation and organized key pro-democracy protests around the country.
Safeguarding Human Rights in the West Bank
NIF is working to combat settler violence, which soared last year, and even more so after October 7, by supporting Israeli activists working side by side with Palestinians. These activists, who often act as physical buffers in violent situations, have become targets for harassment in the form of political arrests, civil suits, and social media attacks. In response, NIF’s action arm, Shatil, created a comprehensive support system for human rights activists.
Defending Progressive Civil Society
NIF established the Civil Society Protection Hub to enable activists and organizations to operate safely and effectively in a climate shaped by a far-right-wing government. The Hub connects individuals and NGOs that have been attacked with an array of NIF-funded services. It has helped more than 100 individuals and organizations—providing legal aid to protesters who were arrested; thwarting online attacks against activists; and supporting activists that protect Palestinians in the West Bank from settler attacks.
Blocking Harmful Anti-Democratic Legislation
Israel’s Supreme Court struck down an amendment to the “reasonableness clause”—the cornerstone of the government’s plan to overhaul the judiciary and remove basic checks and balances in Israel’s governing system—in response to a petition by ACRI representing 38 organizations. NIF and partners also were instrumental in thwarting a bill that, if passed, would levy a 65% tax on donations from foreign governments to NGOs.
Providing Emergency Funding for Diverse Needs
NIF more than tripled its rapid response grants pool to $1.7 million, providing grants to dozens of organizations and activists opposing the government’s extreme agenda. The grants funded different needs, including pro-democracy demonstrations across Israel; initiatives that safeguard liberal democratic values in education; efforts to protect the rights of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank; and campaigns to ensure the rights of women, asylum seekers, and the LGBTQ community.
Bringing the Occupation to the Public Debate
The Anti-Occupation Bloc, a coalition guided by Shatil, brought a strong message that “there is no democracy with occupation” to the weekly pro-democracy demonstrations, and aroused debate about the true meaning of democracy. With support from NIF, the bloc grew from a few local chapters to 25 groups nationwide in 2023.
Protecting Negev Bedouin During the War
Bedouin communities in the Negev, especially villages that are not recognized by the state and lack infrastructure and municipal services, are among the most vulnerable in Israel. At the outset of the Israel-Hamas war, NIF and partners provided water tanks, food, first-aid kits, and educational materials to residents of these villages, and compelled the state to recognize them as “populated” areas and provide some communities with mobile shelters for protection.
Combating Online Misinformation and Disinformation
The work of watchdog organization FakeReporter, which combats malicious activity online and in messaging platforms, has become even more crucial after October 7. In the months since, FakeReporter teamed up with members of Israel’s tech community to create “Digital Dome,” a central address for reporting content that incites to violence, amplifies racism, or disseminates lies. FakeReporter’s work also resulted in 100 pieces of gruesome content, including on Hamas-owned platforms, being removed.
Building Solidarity in the Negev
With support from NIF, grantee Have You Seen the Horizon Lately? established a Jewish-Arab emergency relief center in the Bedouin town of Rahat in October 2023. Every week since then, volunteers have come together to package and distribute humanitarian aid to hundreds of Jewish and Arab families in southern Israel. The center builds social solidarity and reinforces the idea of a shared future for all Israeli citizens.
Creating a Political Horizon
NIF is supporting initiatives to provide a peaceful, inclusive vision for Israel’s future. The Berl Katznelson Foundation and Mitvim: The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies recently unveiled “The Israeli Initiative,” a roadmap for working toward peace with the Palestinians. Another project called “What Yes” is a collaboration by experts who are drafting 10 key policy proposals intended to serve as a platform for the first 100 days of a future, equality-oriented government.
Reinforcing Jewish-Arab Relations
NIF has redoubled efforts to strengthen Jewish-Arab partnerships. Rapid response grants to Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad-Naqef Ma’an) and the Haifa Social Development Committee have supported efforts to minimize tensions between Jewish and Arab citizens in mixed cities like Haifa, Lod, and Acre. Standing Together formed “solidarity networks” of Jewish and Arab volunteers that spread a message of unity and hope. These networks have grown to include over 6,300 volunteers in 20 localities.
Assisting Vulnerable Populations After October 7
NIF and grantees provided humanitarian aid and basic needs for communities affected by the Hamas attacks and the ensuing war, including arranging for temporary housing solutions, distributing food, providing medical attention and psychological support, organizing educational & recreational activities for children, and more. Additionally, in response to numerous requests since October, NIF has increased its capacity to provide psychological support to activists and organizations.