Celebrating the Israelis who believe in hope

Peacebuilding and civil society organisations are quietly building better environments, healthier social institutions, and even some positive relationships with Israel’s neighbours, writes MICHAEL CHAITOW.

As we approach the 75th Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, it is difficult to find anything to celebrate about Israel’s government.

Instead, I choose to celebrate Israel’s civil society organisations who bring hope at a time when the far-Right government is attacking its own democracy and threatening peace with its neighbours.

Civil society organisations work tirelessly to build democracy for all peoples in Israel and beyond. They build bridges across national borders, gain an understanding of those with whom Israel has historically warred, and develop partnerships that will have an impact despite the actions of any one government.

One example is EcoPeace. Led by Australian Gidon Bromberg, it operates as a partnership between Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians on both sides of the Jordan Valley. It addresses the common challenge of climate change and water security and works to build peace around common solutions.

At a political level, tensions are mounting. The Netanyahu government is threatening the fragile peace with Israel’s neighbour, Jordan, a peace that has existed for almost two decades. Israelis and Jordanians are calling on Emiratis and Americans to help de-escalate a highly tense environment.

But at a grassroots level, EcoPeace is able to improve water quality and create environmentally sustainable energy solutions.

Its Green Blue Deal provides a framework for reducing emissions to zero across these states by 2050, leveraging private business investment and building on the commitments made by the Israeli government in 2020 and the Jordanian government in 2017, to achieve sustainable development that not only improves environmental outcomes, but also advances social equity.

Organisations like EcoPeace have the capacity to view the natural resources of the region as an opportunity for collaboration, rather than competition or even violence.

They also provide a longer horizon, particularly important given the one-to-two-year election cycles that Israel has been operating under over the past five years,

At a time when the Israeli government gives us little reason for anything other than despair, I’m privileged to work at the New Israel Fund which enables progressive Jews around the world to support organisations that give us hope for a better, more peaceful region.

The environment is only one area that is ripe for such co-operative ventures. Civil society organisations also build the social infrastructure needed to combat the dangerous overreach of Israel’s far-Right government.

Responding to the authoritarian tendencies of Netanyahu and his ministers, NIF international has fundraised to build an SOS (Shielding Organisations and Civil Society) Hub, modelled on successful civil society infrastructure built in countries including South Africa and Brazil.

This new organisation helps develop the necessary infrastructure to ensure that NGOs are supported with everything from training to legal and mental health support. As Israel’s government continues to propose dangerous laws such as the banning of Arab parties from running in the Knesset and restricting access to social media or journalists who disagree with it, non-government organisations can serve as a check and balance to counter the government’s agenda.

The Hub also provides the process of coordination and developing networks for like-minded NGOs, allowing them to plan together to prepare appropriate responses across civil society, pushing back against government overreach.

It complements existing work of organisations such as the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), which continues to do critical work representing marginalised groups impacted by the government’s dramatic overreach while resisting its planned judicial overhaul. 

Civil society organisation support democratic institutions such as law and media. Mehazkim (Strengthening) identifies and challenges disinformation and the spread of fake news online. If an organisation can be judged by its enemies, the fact that Mehazkim is being sued by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir may be regarded as a badge of honour.

The non-profit, peacebuilding and civil society organisations are building a barricade to ensure the Netanyahu government cannot destroy the fabric of the country by starting wars with Israel’s neighbours or attacking its democratic institutions.

This Yom Ha’atzmaut, when Israeli democracy and peace in the region are under threat, we take solace in the work of organisations such as EcoPeace, Mehazkim, ACRI and those in The Hub, operating across borders, advancing the vision of an Israel that addresses major challenges alongside its neighbours, rather than against them.

Photo: Ecopeace representatives from Jordan, Israel and Palestine celebrate cleaning up the Jordan River (Ecopeace)