While the pain of October 7 and the ensuing war are on our minds and in our hearts, we at NIF are coming together to recognize the extraordinary resilience and activism of Israel’s civil society. Thanks to our generous supporters, we were able to mobilize staff and resources to carry out NIF’s largest emergency response ever this fall, ensuring that our partners had the tools necessary to meet this challenging moment. 

On April 14, the NIF community will gather at our annual Guardian of Democracy event, where we will stand in solidarity with the activists on the ground in Israel who are working harder than ever to build a shared future of peace, democracy, and safety for all.

The program will feature many speakers, but allow us to highlight two of them.

We will hear from Gallanter Prize Winner Shir Nosatzki, who established a joint Jewish–Arab relief center in the Bedouin town of Rahat after October 7. Shir has long been focused on bringing stories of Jewish-Arab partnership into the consciousness of Israelis, countering the dangerous narrative of Jewish supremacists who fan the flames of hate between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel. Shir brings a better, more hopeful narrative to the mainstream media. After October 7, she called that narrative “Partners in Fate,” arguing that Hamas attacked everyone in Israel indiscriminately: Jews and Arabs alike suffered and acted bravely on that horrible day. Click here to watch a short video clip that showcases the Emergency Relief Center in Israel’s south that Shir helped to create with the support of NIF.

The event will also feature Dr. Yasmeen Abu Fraiha, an NIF Board member whose work in a Be’er Sheva emergency room on October 7 embodies the incredible fortitude and resilience of healthcare providers—and their contribution to our shared humanity and purpose. Dr. Abu Fraiha is a pioneering physician who has worked over her prestigious career to empower the Bedouin community in the Negev. She has long been a determined fighter for equality and justice for all. 

We will be live streaming the event. Access to the livestream is free. Be sure to check the start time for your region and register for the livestream here. 

All contributions will support NIF’s work advancing Jewish-Arab partnership, safeguarding civil and human rights, and promoting peace, justice, and equality.

Visit nif.wmdev.net/guardian to read more about the event.