Israeli Minister of Education Yuli Tamir MK addresses 275 guests at The New Israel Fund Human Rights Awards Dinner in London

In light of the many achievements in the field of human and civil rights in Israel, the New Israel Fund and The Pears Foundation agreed it was time to recognise these accomplishments and the people behind them.

An inspiring inaugural event, sponsored by The Pears Foundation, as well as Mick and Barbara Davis, was held on Monday 9th July 2007 at the Hotel Russell, London.  Its purpose was to honour Uri Pinkerfeld, Hanna Zohar and Dan Yakir - three of Israel’s most outstanding activists working in the field of human and civil rights.  Professor Yuli Tamir, MK, Minister of Education of the State of Israel, gave a keynote address and The Rt Hon the Lord Woolf, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, chaired the Awards. 

More than 270 people attended the evening and nearly £200,000 was raised to support the human and civil rights work of the New Israel Fund which, for more than 25 years, has been a leader in strengthening Israel’s democracy and promoting freedom, justice and equality for all Israel’s citizens. 

A film on each winner told their individual stories –

• Dan’s exceptional legal work bringing complex and challenging human rights issues before Israel’s Supreme Court
  launch video
  
  
• Hanna’s untiring efforts to help Israeli workers and foreigners working in Israel to understand their employment rights and expose companies that exploit and endanger their workers
  launch video
  
  
• Uri’s direct and unwavering drive to provide humanitarian aid and work with Palestinians in the Northern West Bank to rehabilitate their olive groves damaged by radical Israelis
  launch video.

 “It was thrilling to see the audience give standing ovations for the winners as they left the stage,” says Ellen Goldberg, NIF UK’s Executive Director, “which for me summed up the inspiration and warmth of the evening and the connection created between the audience, the awards recipients, and the important work that they do.”

Each award winner was presented with a glass trophy and a cheque for $10,000, sponsored by The Pears Foundation, to support a project of their choice in Israel. 

Photo caption: Trevor Pears, Executive Chair of The Pears Foundation and Uri Pinkerfeld, Retired Farmer and Grassroots Activist, New Israel Fund Human Rights Award Winner 2007

Photo caption: William Frankel, Honorary President of the New Israel Fund and Hanna Zohar, Founder and Executive Director, Worker’s Hotline, New Israel Fund Human Rights Award Winner 2007

Photo caption: Lord Woolf, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and Dan Yakir, Legal Counsel, Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), New Israel Fund Human Rights Award Winner 2007

Caption:  New Israel Fund UK Chairman Mark Goldberg makes the New Israel Fund Human Rights Appeal