March 21, 2025
Dear friend,
I just returned from a weeklong trip to the United States, where I had the chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new friends, and continue to spread the message that especially during these dark days, human rights are worth fighting for. In the many conversations that I had during my whirlwind trip, I learned more about the democratic crisis unfolding in the US and how it mirrors some of what we are experiencing here in Israel.
Meanwhile, in Israel, in an attempt to push through its primary agendas, the government has chosen to return to war and to the judicial overhaul. We are working hard on all fronts to respond to, and push back against, the increasingly extreme measures taken by the government to eliminate the country’s democratic spaces and keep us in a state of perpetual war.
The decision to end the cease-fire is devastating for all of us, but especially for the hostages and for the residents of Gaza whose suffering will only increase. In light of the government’s decision to cut off water to Gaza, which will deprive Gazans of potable water and exacerbate an already-horrible human rights situation, we sent an urgent request for the decision to be revoked. In our petition, we reminded the government that access to drinking water is a basic human right. Denying Gazans access to clean water is not only cruel, it is a violation of international law. We will update you as this case progresses.
We will also fight back against the judicial overhaul. As of now, we are focusing on the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee’s decision on March 19, 2025 to advance a proposed law that, if ratified, would change the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee to make it more political and grant the coalition more power over the appointments of judges. Though the current system is not perfect, politicizing the appointment of judges will not solve any of the current issues—and in many cases, will only make things worse. We already sent a position paper in January to the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee expressing our strong objections to the proposed law. Unfortunately, we anticipate that the law will pass on Thursday, but we have a strong legal petition ready to go immediately after its passage. Just as we have done in the past, we will use every tool at our disposal to litigate on behalf of democracy and democratic values.
Israelis have not been silent in the face of these developments. Following the decision to resume the war, as well as other antidemocratic initiatives, tens and hundreds of thousands of Israelis began taking to the streets. They are putting their physical safety on the line in order to stem the tide of autocracy and free the hostages. As always, we are at the ready to defend citizens’ right to protest, to carry signs with messages of their choosing, and to express themselves without being subjected to police violence. We are also at the forefront of ensuring that journalists are able to cover the protests—and any police violence that takes place—without being subjected to violence themselves. Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are among the most important rights in a society, and we will protect them wherever, and whenever, necessary.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
With so much happening on the national level, we cannot to forget the importance of protecting the rights of individuals to go about their lives without worrying about being stopped or detained because of the color of their skin. Today, March 21, is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and I am proud to report that we at ACRI just argued an important case before the Supreme Court against racial discrimination by the police. In one case, which has eerie parallels to the US, Shimon (name changed for privacy) was walking in a public area when he was stopped by the police. The officers asked him if he was a drug dealer; when he responded that he was not, and that he was doing a year of service, they pinned him against a wall, kicked his legs apart, and aggressively searched him. When Shimon asked them why he was being stopped, they pointed at the hoodie he was wearing and told him that he “looked suspicious.” In another case, David (name changed for privacy), a Mizrahi Jew, was stopped by police while walking home and searched aggressively. When he demanded to know why he was stopped, the officers replied that he “matched a description.” When David removed his hoodie and asked the officers if he still looked suspicious, they let him go. In these cases and others, hoodies are used in order to claim that individuals from minority groups look suspicious and are therefore fair game for police. We are fighting against this practice, because even in the midst of national and political turmoil, individuals still have the right to walk home wearing a hoodie and be left in peace.
We always have our focus on human rights as our guiding compass. Donate Now to stand with us in our fight for human rights and accountability.