Racism and Discrimination
You have reached ACRI’s archive, updated with our activity up until 2018. For more recent posts, please visit our current website here.
While the racial distinction between the Jewish Israeli population and the Arab Israeli and Palestinian populations continues to be the most pervasive within Israeli society, there remain a number of other disenfranchised communities for whom equality remains an ideal only in theory. This discrimination particularly affects the physically and mentally handicapped, the LGBT community, the poor and homeless, and women, specifically religious and Arab women, among others. With a large portion of those living within Israel and the Occupied Territories constantly feeling the effects of a culture of discrimination, it is a matter of the state to ensure that racism is no longer the undertone of political and social discourse.
ACRI defends the right to equality as it pertains to each individual within Israel and the Occupied Territories, without discrimination. To this end, ACRI seeks, particularly through focused education, to introduce human rights discourse into all aspects of Israeli life. ACRI opposes racist legislation through litigation, and promotes the empowerment of society to demand their equal rights through public advocacy and outreach.
All
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The Fight against Racism begins with Education
September 1, 2016
Dear Friends, This week we heard the police commissioner making racist remarks against Ethiopian citizens just barely a month … Read more
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Annul JNF representation on the Israel Land Council
August 23, 2016
The National Committee of Arab Local Authorities, Adalah, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), the Arab Center for … Read more
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Exposing Discrimination
June 21, 2016
By: New Israel Fund Klil Agassi first became aware of the social distance between Arabs and Jews, while she was working … Read more
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The government must formulate a plan to combat homophobia in sport
May 31, 2016
On 31 May 2016 in a hearing before the Knesset Sub-Committee for Sport, ACRI called on the Committee members to … Read more
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Whoever discriminates will be fined
March 10, 2016
Dear friends, As someone who grew up on the periphery, in an area with new immigrants, I am familiar … Read more
Legal Work
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This Passover, All are Welcome at Park Anava
March 21, 2013
Council had denied entry to nonresidents during the holiday of Sukkoth last year. Following ACRI enquiries, the Modi’in municipality … Read more
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High Court to State: Explain Use of Private Guards in E. Jerusalem
December 13, 2012
The High Court of Justice today (13 December 2012) issued an order nisi instructing the state to explain the deployment … Read more
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ACRI: Racist Campaign by Otzma Leyisrael Should not be Banned
December 13, 2012
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) disagrees with the decision of Central Elections Committee Chairman, Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, … Read more
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Panel of 9 Justices to Hear Petitions Against Acceptance to Communities Law
December 3, 2012
Petitioners claim there is no place for screening procedures in small communities, which lack unique characteristics that would justify such … Read more
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Ruling: Municipality Cannot Evict Homeless from Public Spaces
November 19, 2012
Tel Aviv District Court in a precedent-setting ruling: municipal inspectors are not allowed to evict homeless people from public spaces; … Read more
In the Knesset
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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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Israeli Authorities Must Bolster Law Enforcement in OPT, but without Trampling on Rights
January 4, 2012
Tomorrow (Thursday, 5 January 2012) the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee is scheduled to hold an expedited discussion regarding … Read more
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Knesset Winter Session Begins: Trends and Concerns
October 31, 2011
Two contradictory main trends are likely to be at the center of the Knesset’s winter session, which opened yesterday: the … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | Summary of Summer Session 2011
August 22, 2011
Knesset Summary – Summer 2011 With the conclusion of the summer 2011 Knesset session, the Association for Civil … Read more
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Constitution Committee Approves Bill Discriminating Against Those Who Did Not Serve in the Army
May 22, 2011
Today (22 May 2011) the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice committee has approved for first reading a bill promoting discrimination … Read more
Publications
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Racism Explained to Our Children
March 21, 2012
March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On this day in 1960, police opened fire … Read more
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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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ACRI’s Shadow Report to the UN Committee on Economic and Social Rights
November 2, 2011
On 30 October 2011, ACRI presented a shadow report to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. … Read more
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The Writing is on the Wall: Posters for Social Justice
October 3, 2011
In the past two months, hundreds of people took part in ACRI’s “Writing on The Wall” campaign and hung thousands … Read more
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Putting Israel’s Periphery in the Center
August 29, 2011
ACRI warns: The gaps between the center of Israel and the periphery have reached an all-time high, as a result … Read more
Media
Policy Advocacy
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This Passover, All are Welcome at Park Anava
March 21, 2013
Council had denied entry to nonresidents during the holiday of Sukkoth last year. Following ACRI enquiries, the Modi’in municipality … Read more
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ACRI to Modi’in Municipality: Restricting Entrance to Public Parks is Illegal
October 30, 2012
Today (30 October 2012) the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) sent a letter to the Mayor of Modi’in, … Read more
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“Approving Levy Committee’s recommendations is admitting inexistence of rule of law in West Bank”
October 17, 2012
Following reports of the Prime Minister’s intention to bring the Levy Committee’s recommendations for government approval, ACRI states: “Approving the … Read more
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Discriminatory Terms of Employment for Ethiopian Rabbis
December 21, 2005
The following is a translation of the written appeal sent by ACRI Attorney Sharon Abraham-Weiss to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, … Read more
Knesset Roundup
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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 Winter Session Begins: Trends and Concerns
October 31, 2011
Two contradictory main trends are likely to be at the center of the Knesset’s winter session, which opened yesterday: the … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | Summary of Summer Session 2011
August 22, 2011
Knesset Summary – Summer 2011 With the conclusion of the summer 2011 Knesset session, the Association for Civil … Read more
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ACRI Review of Knesset Winter Session
April 13, 2011
In recent years, ACRI has been increasingly troubled by expanding assaults on Israel’s democratic values. Of great concern is the … Read more