Community Advocacy

Community Advocacy was established in 1993 and was the first social rights advocacy organization in Israel. Through advocacy centers located in Lod, Beersheva and Jerusalem, the organization works to empower residents of disadvantaged communities to access, protect and promote their social and economic rights. Our primary goals are to enable residents to advocate on their own behalf or on behalf of their neighbors in order to access their legal entitlements, find solutions to their common problems and participate in decision making bodies which affect their lives. Our mandate is to serve all in need regardless of background or legal status.

Community Advocacy works with the Israel Arabs primarily through our branch located in the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood in Lod. Activities include reception in our storefront rights center in order to enable thousands of individuals to access entitlements in are areas of National Insurance benefits, health and housing; community organizing supporting local advocacy groups- for example to guarantee that the local community center is open to all residents without discrimination; and policy change campaigns- for example to establish eligibility to public housing to women married West bank residents or to guarantee development and provision of services to Arab children with special needs. Through our Beersheva office Community Advocacy also works with the Bedouin residents of the Negev around issues of recognition and citizenship.