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������������������������ TRANSFORMATIVE NEW ADVOCACY DIRECTIONS 29 JEFF DAUBE Director, ZOA Israel The ever-dynamic political landscapes in Israel, the U.S., and Europe have kept the �������������� ������������ ���������������� ���������� ���������� ���������� �������������� In addition, after nearly ten years of groundwork and relationship-building, many pieces are now coming together, in important new ways. This report will focus on three areas of ZOA Israel engagement that signal particular transformative, if not outright game-changing, potential for the road forward. KNESSET LAW INITIATIVE Approached by influential interests in the Knesset, the Legal Grounds Campaign (largely supported by ZOA and co-chaired by ZOA Israel Director Jeff Daube) was asked to help spearhead what may turn into a historic endeavor. The state of inequality under the law, experienced for decades by the 450,000 Israeli citizens living in Judea and Samaria, finally is being examined and challenged. Our collaboration with Orit Struk, administrative head of the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus and a former member of Knesset, began in reaction to a landmark June directive, from Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, requiring that Israel’s civil laws be applied over the Green Line as they are within it. A promising first move toward ending discrimination based on residence, yes, but the June 1 Shaked-Levin directive is not retroactive. And it pertains only to government bills, not to private bills introduced independently by Knesset members. So, at an unusually well-attended Knesset hearing on the golden anniversary of the Six- Day War, we announced our intention to advance measures ensuring that new private bills, and select bills enacted into law before June 1, from now on would include Judea/Samaria. After all, as we reminded the plenum, the population in these communities pay their taxes like all other Israeli residents; they also serve disproportionately and with distinction in the IDF. In a letter to Knesset members, we further described our agenda to support and widely report on the legislative activities of MKs ready to take the lead. In particular, we are looking at laws concerning the disabled, environmental quality, worker entitlements, sexual harassment, maternity rights, and animal rights, as well as laws that prohibit businesses and stores from denying services to uniformed Israeli soldiers. (R-L) Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Gush Etzion leader Shlomo Ne’eman oppose demolition of Jewish homes caused by one meter overlap with disputed land in Elazar


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