What can JIJ do in a year?
2024 was our busiest and most impactful year since our founding 20 years ago
With your help, in 2024, JIJ provided FREE legal aid to 2,733 survivors of terrorism, human trafficking, and discrimination, including:
- 32 wounded Israeli soldiers
- 40 survivors of human trafficking
- 17 survivors of the October 7th massacre
- 68 families seeking Israeli citizenship or residency
- 112 refugees from Ukraine, Russia, and Eritrea
- 120 Israeli families displaced from their homes on the Gaza & Lebanon borders
How does JIJ do all of this in one year? With you, our amazing supporters. Thank you!
Our media presence grew & our team appeared on:
We met personally with dozens of global leaders, including Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog, United Nations SRSG Pramila Patten, & US Senators Chris Murphy, Richard Blumenthal, & John Fetterman.
We shared our research, forensic evidence, and legal analysis with diplomats from 30 countries.
January - June
JIJ held a series of free “ Know Your Rights” seminars for:
- 120 Israeli families who became suddenly homeless, unemployed, or disabled as a result of the war
- 57 Ukrainian & Russian refugee families
- 9 of these families receive Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return
- 500 wounded soldiers
Gathered 84 political & religious leaders in the U.S. for a private screening of unedited, uncensored footage of the October 7th massacre recovered from the bodies of Hamas terrorists and compiled by the IDF.
Drafted an urgent petition to Stop Funding UNRWA & persuaded key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committees to enact a 1-year ban on US funding to UNRWA.
Hosted UN diplomats from 18 countries to hear testimony from Yuval Raphael a survivor of the Oct. 7th massacre. Yuval went to the Nova Festival to dance all night with her friends. At dawn, Hamas invaded, and she sought refuge in a roadside bomb shelter, which became a tomb when terrorists found them.
Launched the Survivors Seeking Justice project, and filmed detailed video testimonies of 17 survivors of the Oct. 7th massacre.
JIJ lawyers presented forensic evidence & first responder testimony to senior UN officials. This proof confirmed a pattern of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7th and stopped the rape deniers in their tracks.
July-December
Discussed Israel’s anti-trafficking law with First Lady Michal Herzog. In 2018, JIJ persuaded the
Knesset to adopt a 5-year pilot program that treats women in the sex industry as victims of abuse, & the pimps as criminals. We’re advocating to make the law permanent!
JIJ assisted Israeli police in busting a major human trafficking ring - resulting in the arrest of 14 human traffickers, which was only possible through the testimony of our brave client.
We gave free seminars to soldiers recuperating at Ichilov & Tel Hashomer Hospitals. While private lawyers take 30-50% of a wounded soldier’s disability benefit as payment, JIJ is the only organization providing FREE legal aid to wounded Israeli soldiers, with 32 new soldier clients in 2024.
Intervened at the International Criminal Court with an amicus brief making it clear that the Court lacks jurisdiction over Israeli leaders.
Partnered with the World Union of Jewish Students to train & empower student leaders. Over 8 weeks, we trained 23 Jewish university students from 16 countries to combat antisemitism on their campuses.
The UN Human Rights Council convened a special gathering on the Jewish New Year, to condemn Israel. The timing was intentional - to prevent opposition. In response, we gave our General Assembly floor time to Amit Levy, brother of Naama Levy, who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7th. Amit gave powerful testimony on the need to free all of the hostages.
Every single donation you give, whether it’s $1000 or $10, changes lives!
What can JIJ do in a year?
2024 was our busiest and most impactful year since our founding 20 years ago
With your help, in 2024, JIJ provided FREE legal aid to 2,733 survivors of terrorism, human trafficking, and discrimination, including:
- 32 wounded Israeli soldiers
- 40 survivors of human trafficking
- 17 survivors of the October 7th massacre
- 68 families seeking Israeli citizenship or residency
- 112 refugees from Ukraine, Russia, and Eritrea
- 120 Israeli families displaced from their homes on the Gaza & Lebanon borders
How does JIJ do all of this in one year? With you, our amazing supporters. Thank you!
Our media presence grew & our team appeared on:
We met personally with dozens of global leaders, including Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog, United Nations SRSG Pramila Patten, & US Senators Chris Murphy, Richard Blumenthal, & John Fetterman.
We shared our research, forensic evidence, and legal analysis with diplomats from 30 countries.
January - June
JIJ held a series of free “ Know Your Rights” seminars for:
- 120 Israeli families who became suddenly homeless, unemployed, or disabled as a result of the war
- 57 Ukrainian & Russian refugee families
- 9 of these families receive Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return
- 500 wounded soldiers
Gathered 84 political & religious leaders in the U.S. for a private screening of unedited, uncensored footage of the October 7th massacre recovered from the bodies of Hamas terrorists and compiled by the IDF.
Drafted an urgent petition to Stop Funding UNRWA & persuaded key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committees to enact a 1-year ban on US funding to UNRWA.
Hosted UN diplomats from 18 countries to hear testimony from Yuval Raphael a survivor of the Oct. 7th massacre. Yuval went to the Nova Festival to dance all night with her friends. At dawn, Hamas invaded, and she sought refuge in a roadside bomb shelter, which became a tomb when terrorists found them.
Launched the Survivors Seeking Justice project, and filmed detailed video testimonies of 17 survivors of the Oct. 7th massacre.
JIJ lawyers presented forensic evidence & first responder testimony to senior UN officials. This proof confirmed a pattern of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7th and stopped the rape deniers in their tracks.
July-December
Discussed Israel’s anti-trafficking law with First Lady Michal Herzog. In 2018, JIJ persuaded the
Knesset to adopt a 5-year pilot program that treats women in the sex industry as victims of abuse, & the pimps as criminals. We’re advocating to make the law permanent!
JIJ assisted Israeli police in busting a major human trafficking ring - resulting in the arrest of 14 human traffickers, which was only possible through the testimony of our brave client.
We gave free seminars to soldiers recuperating at Ichilov & Tel Hashomer Hospitals. While private lawyers take 30-50% of a wounded soldier’s disability benefit as payment, JIJ is the only organization providing FREE legal aid to wounded Israeli soldiers, with 32 new soldier clients in 2024.
Intervened at the International Criminal Court with an amicus brief making it clear that the Court lacks jurisdiction over Israeli leaders.
Partnered with the World Union of Jewish Students to train & empower student leaders. Over 8 weeks, we trained 23 Jewish university students from 16 countries to combat antisemitism on their campuses.
The UN Human Rights Council convened a special gathering on the Jewish New Year, to condemn Israel. The timing was intentional - to prevent opposition. In response, we gave our General Assembly floor time to Amit Levy, brother of Naama Levy, who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7th. Amit gave powerful testimony on the need to free all of the hostages.
Every single donation you give, whether it’s $1000 or $10, changes lives!
Enough is Enough: Say NO to Funding Terrorism
By Yesica Goblirsch
Funding Terror
August 23rd, 2017 should have been an enjoyable day for Rina Shnerb, when she and her family decided to hike at a spring near Dolev in Israel. Horrifically, during their hike, a bomb detonated, killing seventeen-year-old Rina and injuring her father and brother. This tragic incident should have never occurred.
It was a terror cell of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist organization, designated as such by the EU, the US, Canada, and Israel, that planned the attack and detonated the bomb that murdered Rina Shnerb and injured her father and brother. In fact, it was Samer Arbid, an accountant for the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) who commanded the PFLP terror cell that planned and detonated the bomb that slew Rina. Why does this matter? The UAWC, that holds strong ties to BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanctions) and is affiliated with the PFLP, was directly financed by the Netherlands. This is only one example of the improper use of European-funded Palestinian organizations.
The Netherlands is not the sole culprit in funding terror activities. The European Union, Belgium, Germany, France and the United Kingdom all have directly or indirectly funded terror-linked organizations. Like the UAWC, the Al-Haq, Addameer and many other organizations, enjoy stable, multi-year funding from Europe while holding strong ties to the PFLP.
You might wonder, how organizations like the UAWC manage to continue to receive funding from the European Union and aforementioned member states. They “whitewash” themselves, deflecting attention to emphasize human rights rather than illicit activities. These funds in fact are supporting illegal and nefarious activities. This reality demands that accountability measures and protocols to stop terror financing be strengthened and improved in order to prevent future tragedies. Terrorism must be condemned in all circumstances.
Accountability
The European Union and its member states, who directly or indirectly fund terror and/or BDS activities, need to be held accountable. Where there is a lack of accountability, integrity and transparency, there is greater room for error and for the abuse and misuse of funds. Not just any funds, but taxpayer funds. It is not fair to taxpayers to have their tax dollars inadvertently or directly inflict or cause violence. They have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent and must hold their respective governments accountable. Any citizen with a genuine heart and love for their country would denounce terror funding in any form.
In light of tragedies like these, the EU needs to hold organizations accountable to reveal sub-granting parties and partners. To disclose how funds received are spent, and to renounce ties to terrorism. Organizations that refuse to comply with these requirements should have their funding frozen until the EU and its member states respond accordingly. These proposed requirements are not unreasonable but are imperative.
Rina Shnerb’s premature demise could have been prevented. Tragedies like Rina’s will be repeated if these organizations continue to receive funding without stipulations. Thus, it is essential that we resolve to do whatever it takes to make sure it does not happen again. The European Union has the tools to better ensure that NGOs do not receive funds due to “whitewashing” themselves. The EU countries need to make an effort to inform themselves how their donations are being used. One way to encourage this, is for European taxpayers to hold their governments accountable. They must demand disclosures, transparency and that their leaders actively shun the funding of terrorism and violence.
Terror financing is unacceptable and there is no excuse for not holding organizations with ties to terrorism accountable. We need to learn from tragic experiences and bring about positive change. Terrorism in its entirety is wrong. Enough is enough, it is time to draw a line and say no to funding terrorism.
ISRAEL REVEALS BDS "NETWORK OF HATE"
Research Highlights Prominent Role of the PA and Hamas in Leading BDS, Certain BDS Organizations’ Ties to Terror Groups
Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan:
"The relationship between terrorist organizations and the BDS movement has never been closer, ideologically or operationally. I will continue to go after the perpetrators of this anti-Semitic hate campaign stemming from Gaza and Ramallah."
Jerusalem, Israel ― June 19, 2018 ― Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy Gilad Erdan revealed for the first time the “Network of Hate”. This map showcases the network of ties between 42 of the most prominent BDS organizations― ten of which have ties with the internationally recognized terrorist organizations Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Minister Erdan presented the information at this year’s Global Coalition 4 Israel Forum (GC4I), an event focused on strategies for countering BDS and anti-Israel delegitimization.
Additional data presented:
• The Ministry of Strategic Affairs asserts boycott organizations are relying heavily on falsified propaganda disseminated by Hamas and the PA, with a quarter of them shown to have ties to the terrorist organizations PFLP and Hamas.
• BDS organizations are interconnected and operate together as an integral network directed from Ramallah and the BDS National Committee (BNC).
• The next boycott target: Israel's military arms trade.
• There are currently an estimated 300 organizations calling for a boycott of Israel.
In his speech on the opening night of the conference, Minister Erdan said that as a result of his ministry going on the offensive over the last two years, the boycott movement is now on the defensive. "Just recently, we have revealed to the European Union that part of the money that it supposedly transfers to ‘human rights organizations’ is in fact transferred to groups that maintain ties with terrorist organizations."
"The perpetrators of this hate-filled campaign, who derive their ideology from the PA and Hamas, are united in their goal of attacking Israel, and are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts. Under the guise of ‘civil activities’, a coordinated and financed network of organizations is led from Ramallah and Gaza, a quarter of which have links to terrorist organizations, including Hamas and the PFLP.”
The minister went on to note that Hamas and the PFLP openly support and embrace the BDS movement. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated, "We support the BDS movement" in July 2017, and his movement repeated it only last month. Other examples include: Senior members of Palestinian organizations Al-Haq, DCI-P and Addameer having either had or have active roles in the PFLP, whereas Ramallah-based Shawan Jabarin, the General Director of Al-Haq and a leader in multiple legal campaigns against Israel, served 13 years in prison in Israel for his involvement in the military wing of PFLP. Lila Khaled participated in the fundraising campaign for BDS South Africa, and ties between the American boycott organization "Semidoun" and the PFLP were also found. Additionally, the BDS organization PRC promotes Hamas's interests in Europe and members of the British PSC and FOA held meetings with senior Hamas figures in the Gaza Strip and recently held a demonstration in Downing 10 in support of Hamas’s recent “March of Return” campaign.
Minister Erdan also blamed the Palestinian Authority, which has been a long-time advocate for boycotting Israel, for officially adopting the principles of thr boycott movement in its Palestinian National Council last May. "We saw attempts by senior PA officials to suspend Israel from FIFA and to promote the ‘black lists’ formulated by the UN Human Rights Council. All of these campaigns, exposed by the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, were extensively promoted by the BDS organizations.
Minister Erdan also observed the political environment is decidedly against the boycott movement, noting anti-boycott legislation has already been passed in 25 US states, and boycott activity in Europe has been thwarted thanks to the exposure of its discriminatory elements against both Jews and the State of Israel.
Recently, the Ministry of Strategic Affairs has identified a rise in the content and audiences to which BDS groups directing their activities. Boycott organizations have recently called for a halt to trade agreements with Israel and to business cooperation with Israel's defense industries.
Minister Erdan noted that this campaign is no longer held only among civil society organizations, but recently the boycott organizations have begun to lobby MPs in various parts of the world. The opening of the first branch of the BNC this year in India may be part of the strategic goal of the boycott movement against Israel’s arms trade.
Minister Erdan concluded, "The relationship between terrorist organizations and the BDS movement has never been closer, ideologically or operationally. I will continue to go after the leaders of this hate-filled campaign emanating from Gaza and Ramallah."
Hamas' True Face Exposed
Donations from Brazil to Gaza
How does international aid benefit terrorist organizations?
Article by Leandro Duchovni Silva
For the full report: Donations from Brazil to Gaza
On July 20, 2010, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned a law (number 12.292) which allows for donations of up to R$ 25,000 000 to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority by the Brazilian government.
Donations from Brazil to Gaza are controlled by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is an organization that has been providing food, medicine, and social services to the Palestinian people for 67 years. Unfortunately, UNRWA has never taken steps to withhold assistance to extremist groups; and in some cases, it has cooperated openly with terrorists. Now that Hamas is the ruling power in Gaza any international aid that UNRWA receives goes directly to this terrorist organization.
In just less than 5 years, Brazil has donated more than 24 million US dollars to Gaza in food and money, which goes directly to Hamas via UNRWA. The majority of the Brazilian population is unaware that this law exists because it's sanctioning was never broadcast in the media. It would appear that the government is purposefully keeping Brazilians ignorant of this law and the consequent inflation of already high taxes.
Since Gaza is under the control of Hamas, one has to wonder whether international aid ever reaches the suffering populace it was intended for. Experience tells us that most of the funds and supplies will end up in the hands of Hamas. “The funneling of international aid to finance terror by Hamas and other violent Islamist groups in the Gaza Strip is widespread and the world is hideously naive as regards the scope of the problem”, said Avi Dichter, former Shin Bet director and now the head of the Knesset’s powerful Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
An in-depth look at Gaza will reveal UNRWA’s obligation to Hamas if it wants to continue to operate in Gaza. The problem goes even deeper, UNRWA workers are permitted to openly affiliate with terrorist groups, in fact, it will helps in getting a job. Yoni Fighel, a former Israeli military governor in the Palestinian territories notes that, "as long as UNRWA employees are members of Fatah, Hamas, or PFLP [Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine], they are going to pursue the interests of their party within the framework of their job … Who's going to check up on them to see that they don't? UNRWA? They are UNRWA."
Furthermore, UNRWA supports Hamas, and other terrorist groups, as part of the Palestinian landscape. Dr. Asaf Romirowsky, a Middle East historian, notes that UNRWA institutions have not only produced terrorist ideologues; they have also produced terrorist masterminds like Ibrahim Maqadama, who “helped create the military structure of Hamas,” according to Dore Gold, former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations. Gold is cited as saying that at least 46 terrorist operatives were students in UNRWA schools. Even UNRWA employees have been involved in terrorist attacks against civilians, with widespread reports of terrorism from UNRWA-supervised facilities, from schools to the transport of terrorists in UNRWA ambulances.
Despite the years of hardship Brazil is facing, politicians are still donating precious money that the country desperately needs to finance terrorist organizations in Gaza. It would be reasonable to assume that if the population of Brazil had known about this law, and the siphoning of their money to terrorist organizations, these donations would not have been permitted.