In 2023, Israel’s government attempted to carry out a judicial overhaul which was, de facto, a regime coup. The response to the government’s actions came in the form of the largest public protest movement in the nation’s history. The Arab community, however, wasn’t an integral part of this protest movement in its early days. Recognizing the significance of these events and understanding that those who remained on the sidelines would be left behind and become irrelevant in the newly forming landscape, we created a number of campaigns and initiatives aimed at bringing the Arab community closer to the protest movement and bringing the protest movement closer to the Arab community.
Dead Class Citizens
During the first months of 2023, while the Jewish community was focused on the actions being carried out by the government which was advancing its regime coup, and the growing protest movement against these government actions, the Arab community was focused on another matter: Itamar Ben Gvir, who was appointed as the Minister of Internal Security, and then immediately rebranded the ministry and became the Minister of National Security (in charge of the Police Force). This new ministry abandoned Arab citizens and left them on their own to face the growing pandemic of organized crime, violence, and murder in their community.
In light of this, and in response to the political right-wing defining themselves as ‘Second Class Citizens’, we created the ‘Dead Class Citizens’ campaign. The goal was to raise public awareness regarding the devastating consequences of the governmental neglect the Arab community in Israel suffers, including hundreds of murder victims each year.
Together with our partners from Qadaya, we marched on Kaplan St. in Tel Aviv carrying large banners and later led a ‘March of Coffins’ (representing the many members of the Arab community who lost their lives).
This campaign received extensive media coverage, it was featured on the front pages of many newspapers and online news sites, and sparked a lively public discourse on the topic.
Arabic Language Informational Campaign in Partnership with the Abraham Initiatives Organization
We joined forces with the ‘Abraham Initiatives’ organization to create a campaign that would bring the protest movement messaging into the Arab community, explain its importance and relevance to the Arab community, and showcase the men and women in leadership roles participating in the protest movement.
- Public figures from the Arab community call to join the protest movement
- The Reasonableness Doctrine explained by Dr. Manal Totry-Jubran
- Former MK Sondos Saleh urges the Arab community to join the protest movement
- Dr. Samir Mahamed urges the Arab community to join the protest movement
- Amir Badran on Kan 11 – Israel’s public broadcasting station
Main Stage Messaging and Recruitment of Speakers from the Arab Community
As part of our efforts to bring the protest movement and the Arab community closer together, we recruited speakers from the Arab community to take the main stage at the weekly protest events on Kaplan St. in Tel Aviv and throughout the country. This complemented the messaging of partnership promoted by speakers from the Jewish community.
- Sondos Alhoot
- Mayor of Tira Mamoun Abed al-Hay
- Shir Nosatzki
- Major General in the Reserves Amiran Levin
- Joumana al-Hallaq
- Adv. Hanan Alsanah
- Prof. Shikma Bressler
- Dr. Amir Khnifess
- Ibrahim Abu Ahmad
Partners in Protest Campaign
We created videos and ads promoting Jewish-Arab partnership within the protest movement.
Social Media Update Groups in Arabic
We created Arabic language WhatsApp and Telegram groups serving over 1000 leaders from the Arab community, including Members of Knesset and local authorities, members of the media, academia, influencers, and civil leaders.
The social media groups provide continual updates on all things related to the protest movement against the regime coup, including details on upcoming protest events, relevant legislation and political appointments, etc.