civil society

B’Tselem and PHRI hold a press conference announcing their respective reports on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Jerusalem, July 27, 2025. (Flash90)

‘Our genocide’: Israeli rights groups abandon their restraint on Gaza

After months of hesitation, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel assert that the war is meant to erase Palestinian life — now and in the future.

By Shatha Yaish July 31, 2025

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her first State of the EU address at the European Parliament in Brussels. September 16, 2020. (European Parliament/CC-BY-4.0)

Why is the EU helping to label Israel criticism as antisemitism?

By adopting the IHRA definition, the EU is playing into the agendas of Israel advocacy groups that undermine civil society work against the occupation.

By Ilan Baruch April 19, 2021

Fadi Ibrahim Abu Khusa (4) holds the photo of his two killed siblings, Shahed (9) and Mohammed (2), in their home in Zawaida village, central Gaza Strip, February 24, 2015. The two children were killed with their parents, Ibrahim and Sabreen, and 4 other members of their family by an Israeli attack on their home which occured on July, 30, 2014. Ibrahim and Sabreen went to the home of Sabreen's father one week before the attack thinking they would be safer. (Anne Paq / Activestills.org)

I was meant to talk about Palestinian kids at the UN. Israel forced me out

Belgium caved into Israeli pressure to disinvite me from the Security Council. In doing so, they helped undermine human rights work for Palestinian children.

By Brad Parker February 24, 2020

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Expansion and building of new settlement units of Beit Aryeh on the land of the West Bank village of Abud, near Ramallah, September 13, 2013. (Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)

What’s the significance of a ‘settlement-free Europe?’

The direct effects of official sanctions against Israeli settlements are limited. But the momentum created by such moves inspires and pushes private actors to take their own steps in the same direction. France on Tuesday published a warning to its citizens against doing business in or with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Golan Heights…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man June 25, 2014

Cottage cheese dress thumb (Photo: Rima Olvera)

A quiet week: cottage cheese and social (in)justices

In the absence of any major diplomatic fiascos or triumphs, wars or terror attacks, here is a roundup of a regular old week in Israel: Right-leaning Kadima MK Israel Hasson has proposed that Israelis should not be allowed to perform their national service (an alternate form of IDF service for those with a special exemption)…

By Dahlia Scheindlin June 16, 2011