Task Force Activities
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This brief provides insights about the impact of the ongoing crisis and the focal points that have emerged as priorities for Arab society and Jewish-Arab relations. |
RESOURCES: JEWISH-ARAB RELATIONS IN THE SHADOW OF WAR
IATF / SVF Funder Convening - Dec 4-5, NYC
On October 24, 2023 IATF, SVF and JFN heard from representatives of the National Emergency information Center for Arab Citizens. We were briefed on resource coordination for Arab citizens and communities, including a current map of emergency needs submitted by Arab local authorities. Following the briefing, we heard a short update from the Israeli Foundation Forum (IFF) about coordinating funder giving in Israel around emergency needs in Arab society. Watch the recording and review the National Emergency Information Center for Arab Society's Briefing on Needs here.
One response to the horrific attacks launched by Hamas on Saturday, October 7th, has been an overwhelming mobilization of Israeli citizens and organizations in support of those in need. This includes efforts to address immediate emergency needs in Arab communities (i.e. shelter, food and medicine, advisory information, trauma counseling, education and children’s frameworks); and to preventing potential escalations, tensions, and further violence between Arab and Jewish citizens.
Implementation of these efforts falls into three major areas:*
- National coordination and provision of safety and welfare needs for Arab citizens and communities, ranging from shelters and medical equipment through high rates of arrests and dismissals from workplaces and academia.
- Negev Bedouin focused activity addressing unique needs in the south, including lack of shelters and alert systems, access to trusted information, food and medicine.
- Jewish-Arab relations, addressing rapidly intensifying concerns about escalations in mixed cities, regions, and spaces, and looking at the impact on the future of Israeli society.*
* A separate IATF briefing on Jewish-Arab relations in Israel in the current crisis is forthcoming.
Today there are roughly four levels of coordination across dozens of initiatives:
- Emergency Centers that coordinate between government, local authorities, communities, and field organizations predominantly focused on immediate safety and welfare,
- Civil sector coalitions and forums that coordinate activities and information across numerous NGOs. These are working on both immediate emergency needs and Jewish-Arab relations.
- General civil sector activity: Arab and Jewish-Arab organizations, large and small, across all areas of activity and services, adjusted their activities and/or launched new efforts to support emergency needs.
The report below focuses on the major levels of emergency coordination and activities. It is accompanied by IATF’s growing database that details emergency response efforts of different organizations. Both this report and the dashboard are updated regularly during this time.
One response to the horrific attacks launched by Hamas on Saturday, October 7th, has been an overwhelming mobilization of Israeli citizens and organizations in support of those in need. This includes coordinating efforts to provide emergency shelter, information, and support to Arab communities in harm’s way, and to prevent potential escalations and further violence between Arab and Jewish citizens. The initiatives listed below focus on coordination efforts across NGOs and government bodies, based on lessons and methods established during COVID or in the wake of May 2021 escalations in mixed cities and regions. Many more initiatives are underway.