The loyalty of New Israel Fund supporters was evident on Sunday night as its human rights award dinner raised in excess of £550,000, close to the amount generated by last year’s physical event.
More than 600 people gathered online to celebrate the work of Israeli civil society during the Covid crisis in helping the most marginalised communities.
Broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Freedland hosted the awards, the first of which went to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, which took up social issues early in the pandemic such as pregnant women losing their employment rights. It has also worked to uphold privacy and other freedoms, including the right to protest.
Acri spokesperson Maya Fried told guests that “if you are afraid to go out and protest and say what you have to say, then we have lost our democratic foundation [as a country]”.
