New Year. New Dreams. New Challenges. New Israel.

The Disengagement from Gaza proved to be a dramatic event, not just in the last 12 months, but in Israel’s history. As millions of people tied their colours to their cars and showed their own views through blue and orange ribbons, so the country and the world at large saw the work that is needed to bring cohesion to a nation strewn with splits.

The events of August 2005 revealed not only Israel’s strength and desire for social responsibility, but also highlighted the underlying tensions that exist.

Through our “Disengagement Initiative”, New Israel Fund acted to ensure that the Disengagement ran as smoothly as possible. Now, looking forward, it is addressing the future challenges of a new Israel head on.

New Israel Fund’s “Disengagement Initiative” invested over £100,000 in programmes aimed at stabilising an explosive situation.

For the last six months the initiative has been funding dialogue groups between pro and anti Disengagement camps as well as Orthodox groups, promoting non-violent demonstration and respect for the rule of Law.

Most significantly, New Israel Fund funded psychologists from Tel Aviv University to work with the IDF and police forces to ensure non-violent confrontation. During the actual disengagement the psychologists travelled with units to deal with any on-site trauma suffered by soldiers. Although over in a few days, the effects of disengagement will be felt for weeks, months and even years to come.

CHALLENGES AND DREAMS

The “Disengagement Initiative” has now entered its most critical phase – the aftermath. At this time of national and religious reflection and new beginnings, New Israel Fund will help to ensure that those evacuated are re-housed without harming the environment or members of any existing population.

As the country takes vital steps towards a new start, New Israel Fund will continue its core mission: to uphold human and civil rights, encourage religious pluralism and promote social justice. New Israel Fund is dedicated to building a cohesive society in Israel, bringing together all the segments in these fractious times. To do this, to build the Israel we dream of, we need your support.

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