Civil Rights in Israel

We wish you a Shana tova u’metuka – a sweet and good new year!

editor — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:12:49 +0000

We at Meretz USA and ISRAEL HORIZONS send our heartfelt New Year’s greetings to our friends, supporters and readers. May this year be one of progress and peace!

Meretz party speaks out on the violence in Acre

editor — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:13:45 +0000

Violence erupted on Wednesday night, erev Yom Kippur, between Jewish and Arab residents of Israel's mixed northern city of Acre (Akko). (For the latest news, click here.) Meretz chair Haim Oron, and MKs Yossi Beilin and Zehava Galon have spoken out on the situation:

Meretz MK Yossi Beilin convenes emergency meeting of peace organizations & human rights groups on worsening situation in Hebron

editor — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:12:56 +0000

In response to IDF and Israel Police policy banning entry to the city of Hebron and the Southern Hebron Hills region, representatives of Israel’s peace organizations and of human rights groups active in the territories assembled for an emergency consultation on Tuesday, August 5.

In addition to the Meretz party, the organizations represented at the discussion included: Peace Now, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Rabbis for Human Rights, Bnei Avraham, Machsom Watch, Ta’ayush and Yesh Din.

A new Zionist discourse

editor — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:02:05 +0000

For years, Meretz USA has been an invaluable source of information, opinion and analysis about Israel and the Middle East. We have hosted lectures and conference calls with prominent figures on the Israeli left. We publish our thoughtful quarterly magazine, Israel Horizons, and a biweekly e-newsletter. We host the Meretz USA blog. We issue press releases and statements, and we continue to conduct our unique annual weeklong seminar in Israel, the "Israel Symposium".

But the one thing we haven't done enough is to let you, our supporters, make your voices
heard on the issues we progressive Zionists care about so deeply.

This is about to change.

Starting today, Meretz USA is launching a new initiative that will let you direct your concerns about Israel straight to the people that matter most: the Israeli decision-makers who are determining that country's future. Take Action Today!

News from Meretz USA - May 2, 2008

editor — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:37:22 +0000

Israel at 120

Racism. Blatant discrimination against women. The legitimization of ethnic cleansing. Undue influence over public policy wielded by a wealthy oligarchy. A Declaration of Independence that spoke of equality, amid a stark reality of inequality. A democracy at 60.

No, this is not a profile of Israel, as we approach her 60th birthday next week, but a snapshot of the situation in the United States of America circa 1836.

Naomi Chazan

editor — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:06:06 +0000

On Sunday, March 30, 2008, Prof. Naomi Chazan, a three-term Member of Knesset for Meretz (1992-2003) and current President of the Meretz Party Convention, discussed civil rights in the state of Israel, 60 years after its creation.

In general, Prof. Chazan noted, Israel, like all other democracies, must work to bridge the gap between principles and reality. Israel has made tremendous progress on some civil rights issues over the last sixty years, she said, but in other areas it has accomplished too little. Prof. Chazan chose to focus on three areas still needing attention: equality, social justice, and religious pluralism.

Beilin: The High Court proved today that Israel can defend itself without losing its humanity.

editor — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:13:01 +0000

12/21/05

Meretz-Yachad Chairman Yossi Beilin said that it is sad that the ruling establishment in Israel is unable to grasp that the "neighbor procedure" and the torture used in Shin Bet interrogations blackened Israel's reputation unnecessarily and damaged its standing as the only democracy in the Middle East.