The Only Democracy? » Search Results for "new israel fund"
How Israel Gagged on Its Own Gag Order
by Gila Svirsky This story is a testament to the Internet. (Ed.: in particular blogger Richard Silverstein who broke the story!) And to Anat Kam, the whistleblower, who is widely regarded in Israeli security circles as a traitor and will probably soon be charged with treason. Anat (I’ll use her first name, though I don’t know her) is a 23-year old journalist who wrote for the popular Israeli portal Walla. Some months ago, Anat … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Israeli Schoolchildren Learn to Count with Tanks
By Sergeiy Sandler In January 2010, an official UN body determined for the first time that the militarization of Israel’s government-run school system was in violation of the International Convention of the Rights of the Child and, in particular, of Israel’s implementation of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC), to which it is a signatory. Unprecedented … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Secular, Religious Israeli Students Hold Different Views on Equal Rights and Military Service
Last month we posted an article about Israel’s increasing rejection of democracy as a preferred form of government. On the question of equal rights for Arab citizens, about half of those surveyed opposed such equality. A new poll of Israeli high-school students reveals that nearly half of them also do not believe that Arabs citizens are entitled to the same rights as Jews in Israel. That view was held by 82 percent of religious students, and 39 percent of secular students. Some 91 percent of secular high school students said they want to enlist in the IDF, versus 77 percent of religious students. Eighty-one percent of the religious students said they would refuse orders to evacuate outposts and settlements in the West Bank, versus 36 percent of secular students. Nearly a third of the students said they … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination, Featured
New Profile, European Union Urge UN to Hold Israel Accountable
By Rela Mazali. On January 28th 2010, New Profile, a feminist movement working to demilitarize society and state in Israel, dispatched a letter to a list of top U.N. officials urging the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. Security Council to intervene to ensure implementation of the recommendations made by the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. “If the United Nations and wider international community are to meet their responsibilities in upholding the rule of … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Letter from New Profile
February 25, 2010 Dear friends and supporters, We would like to begin by letting you know, once again, that we truly appreciate your continuing interest and support. They have been crucial in enabling us at New Profile to withstand extended harassment and to keep up our work. Over the last two years, we have faced a series of direct challenges to our longtime efforts towards demilitarizing state and society in Israel. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs, Victories for Democracy
Proposed Legislation Targets Israeli Human Rights NGOs
Jeremiah Haber of the Magnes Zionist reports on proposed legislation endorsed by the Israeli government that would place onerous reporting burdens on human rights non-governmental organizations within Israel, and strip them of their status as public institutions. If passed, Haber warns, “it will be a black day for what is left of Israeli democracy.” Indeed, if anything it makes “the only democracy” in the Middle East fit in with other governments in the region: civil society NGOS are subjected to similar reporting requirements in Iran, and are harassed in Egypt. Why Bomb Iran When You Can Be Iran? That seems to be the thinking behind the Israeli government’s endorsement of legislation that will require human rights NGOs in Israel (e.g., B’Tselem, Machsomwatch, Breaking the Silence, Adalah, etc.) to publicize contributions from foreign governments, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Historic BDS debate in Zeek
By Jesse Bacon Zeek, the artsy hipstery Jewish journal, published two long pieces on BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) for what I assume is the first time. This bold move plants the movement squarely within the more creative portion of the Jewish establishment, at least as a topic of conversation. This suggests that the effort to make any discussion, as opposed to demonization, of BDS taboo has backfired. It is the BDS-demonizers who find themselves increasingly … Read entire article »
Filed under: Victories for Democracy
Audrey Farber responds to proposed loyalty oaths; UPDATED with NIF response
by Audrey Farber A part of me wants to give at least a hesitant nod of acknowledgement to the less-extreme-right in the Knesset who recognize that there is something less-than-savory in Lieberman’s loyalty oath. In Lieberman-land, all naturalized citizens will swear loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. (Ah, the hypocrisy!) As much as Netanyahu may be frustrating the hell out of those of us who – dare we say it – hope for better, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Audrey Farber responds again to NIF guidelines, UPDATED.
By Audrey Farber As anyone knows who has actually seen the new NIF guidelines , the mention of the character of the state of Israel doesn’t come until the very end. In fact, as would be expected from a grant-making institution, the majority of the guidelines cover standard funding topics. They require the grant applicants to be in full compliance with laws, to be relevant to NIF, to be a non-profit, and to maintain standards of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Victories for Democracy
Arrests and eviction orders in Sheikh Jarrah
By Noam Sheizaf, reprinted from his Promised Land blog with permission. Jerusalem – about 200 people took part in the weekly protest against the Jewish colonization of Sheikh Jerrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Among them were New Israel Fund President Naomi Hazan, former Knesset speaker Avrum Burg, and author David Grossman. During the protest, several activists, among them Grossman, marched near the area of the four houses already occupied by settlers. Four … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Interactive Video
“You have a choice! Israeli Anti-Militarists Speak”
Four Israelis—Dorothy Naor, Sergeiy Sander and Eli Fabrikant, and Ofer Golani—talking about their personal histories, political views and activism in 132 short films.