Anti-Democratic Initiatives
You have reached ACRI’s archive, updated with our activity up until 2018. For more recent posts, please visit our current website here.
In the past few years, ACRI has been increasingly concerned by intensifying infringements on democratic freedoms in Israel. Of particular concern is the fact that two of the central arenas from which these threats arise are the very ones charged with safeguarding democracy: The Knesset (Israeli parliament) and government leadership. Senior officials have voiced harsh and unprecedented statements against human rights organizations, political groups, and minorities, and have made various attempts to curtail their operations. A tide of anti-democratic legislative proposals is being introduced in the Knesset and there is a rising wave of assaults on social, political, and national minorities in the public sphere.
As a result, the basic principles of the Israeli democratic system are being undermined. There is an ongoing infringement on issues such as freedom of expression, human dignity and equality and on freedom of assembly and protest. ACRI seeks to educate the public on the increasing threat to basic democratic values through publications including the annual Human Rights Report. ACRI continues to demand accountability with regards to democratic principles and the assurance of such principles in every aspect of Israeli life.
Overview of Anti Democratic Legislation (updated October 2018)
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Exclusion of Women in Higher Education
December 4, 2017
In November 2017, ACRI wrote a letter with partner organizations, urging the Members of the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs to oppose … Read more
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Attorney General responds to Expropriation Law Petition
November 22, 2017
Attorney General responds to Expropriation Law Petition submitted by ACRI, Peace Now and Yesh Din to High Court of Justice … Read more
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Knesset Round Up | October 30
October 30, 2017
Administrative Detention Proposed Law: The Struggle against Terror, 5775-2015 – Remaining section – Preparation for Second and Third Readings Constitution, … Read more
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ACRI to the Prime Minister: Revoke your decision to establish a committee of inquiry
October 17, 2017
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 17th, 2017 to withdraw … Read more
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Position Paper: the Nation-State Bill
September 19, 2017
In recent years, several bills have been proposed that seek to enshrine into a Basic Law Israel’s definition as the … Read more
Media
In the Knesset
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Update – Final Draft of NGO Bill Released
June 26, 2016
A final draft of the bill was published on Wednesday 22 June 2016. Please click here to access the bill in Hebrew. … Read more
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Urgent call to action – Do not promote the NGO Bill
May 24, 2016
On Wednesday May 25, 2016 a hearing will take place in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee regarding the bill … Read more
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Protect Israel’s democracy
April 7, 2016
Dear friends, This week I was filled with sadness. The Suspension of Members of Knesset Bill passed its first … Read more
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Knesset Vote today on the “Suspension Law”
March 28, 2016
Prior to a vote scheduled in the Knesset today on the proposed “Basic Law: The Knesset (Suspension of Members of … Read more
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Proposed law – Suspension of Members of Knesset
February 22, 2016
ACRI has released a position paper on the proposed law prior to the discussion by the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee … Read more
Legal Work
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Jerusalem Municipality Confiscates Demonstrators’ Equipment to “Prevent Waste of Public Money”
July 24, 2012
In response to a letter from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) demanding the return of equipment confiscated … Read more
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Directive 834: Permit Required to Express Opinions and Values in Tel Aviv’s Public Sphere
July 15, 2012
Directive 834 requires permit for all expression in public sphere; District Court Judge likely to dismiss petition against municipality. … Read more
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Protest under Threat
June 24, 2012
This past weekend, two summer phenomena returned to the streets of Tel Aviv: the longtime tradition of a summer heat … Read more
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Supreme Court Rejects Petition to End Continual State of Emergency
May 8, 2012
The court announced its decision thirteen years after the petition was filed. Today (8 May 2012), the Supreme Court … Read more
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Human Rights NGOs Petition Supreme Court to Annul the Anti-Boycott Law
March 12, 2012
Today (12 March 2012), Adalah and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) submitted a petition to the Israeli … Read more
Publications
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State of Human Rights Report 2011: Far from Sight, Liberty in Israel Is Diminishing
December 8, 2011
To mark International Human Rights Day, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) is publishing its annual report on … Read more
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The Anti-Boycott Law: Questions and Answers
July 17, 2011
On 11 July 2011, the Knesset plenum passed the Anti-Boycott Law, which enables the filing of civil lawsuits against those … Read more
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Prohibition on Instituting a Boycott Bill – Info Sheet
February 16, 2011
Below you will find an explanation about the Prohibition on Instituting a Boycott Bill, ACRI position on the bill, and … Read more
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ACRI Publications 2006-2010
October 27, 2010
ACRI’s Shadow Report regarding Israel’s Third Periodic Review by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, October 2010 “Unsafe … Read more
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ACRI Newsletter, October 2010
October 25, 2010
Read about our latest news and achievements Read our most recent newsletter here.
Public Outreach
Policy Advocacy
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Preliminary Analysis of New NGO Foreign Funding Bill
December 1, 2011
A new Knesset bill was introduced last night, which combines the prior 2 NGO foreign funding bills put forward by … Read more
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ACRI to Foreign Minister: Description of Foreign Funding Bill Is Misleading
November 27, 2011
Last Wednesday, ACRI has sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman, regarding his use of a … Read more
Knesset Roundup
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Knesset Roundup | November 12
November 17, 2013
To receive the Knesset Roundup directly to your email, click here. … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | October 29
October 29, 2013
To receive the Knesset Roundup directly to your email, click here. … Read more
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What to expect from the 19th Knesset
January 10, 2013
A new Knesset and government following the 22 January elections will bring renewed challenges for human rights in Israel and … Read more
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Update: Anti-Democratic Legislation Initiatives
August 2, 2012
In recent years, ACRI has been increasingly troubled by expanding assaults on Israel’s democratic values. Of great concern is the … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | November 14
November 14, 2011
November 13 – November 21 2011 Recent Anti-Democratic Legislation November 13 | Curtailing Foreign Funding to Civil … Read more