Jerusalem
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has been operating in Israel since 1982 and began its Palestinian work in 1994. With an Israeli-Palestinian team in a joint office in Jerusalem the foundation aims to be a platform of innovation for enhancing freedom in society, strengthening dialogue with the European Union and contributing to the advancement of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. Together with our partners, we want to strengthen liberal values like the rule of law, respect of human dignity with civil and human rights, market economy principles and entrepreneurship and a democratic culture of tolerance and pluralism.
News
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FNF Jerusalem joining Freedom Games in Poland
It was a great pleasure and honour to organise a panel discussion during the Freedom Games in Lodz, Poland. The Freedom Games conference brings together Liberals from across Europe.
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An Identity Crisis for Israeli Liberals
Since Netanyahu’s religious nationalist government came to power at the end of 2022, the foundations of Israeli democracy have been under attack. Many liberals are calling for the government to resign. The Israel-Gaza war has not only changed the political landscape in Israel, but it also opened up a conflict between liberal individualism and illiberal collectivism. The international community is divided - and Israeli liberals are struggling to find their place.
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Young Palestinian East Jerusalemites in Israeli Academia
A precise analysis of the increasing enrollment of East Jerusalem Palestinian students in Israeli higher education institutions in recent years and examines the impact of the ongoing war on the trend.
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Celebrating International Youth Day
We are pleased to work with the Palestinian Youth Forum for Freedom and Democracy (PYFD) in hosting the conference, "Challenges of Palestinian Youth," held at the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
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From Memory to Action – How to Act when Never Again is Now?
Since the October 7th Hamas terror attacks, the world has been witnessing a new dimension of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments, which indeed makes us wonder, whether Never Again is not already here and now.
This was one of the main questions in our panel discussion, in collaboration with the Rubinstein Center for Constitutional Challenges at the Reichman University in Herzliya, to which we invited leading thought leaders from Germany, Great Britain and Poland.
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Global Power Shifts
This paper addresses the increasingly close relations between Russia and Iran, particularly since Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. The new power dynamic is a crucial element in Russia's strategic alignment with systemic partners to redefine the international world order. Specifically, Iran's production and delivery of UAVs in support of Russia's war objectives in Ukraine have shifted the power balance from Iran's weaker position to an exchange now occurring on almost equal footing.
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The Gaza war in a Nutshell
The Hamas terrorist attack on the 7th of October shook Israeli society to its core. After years of failing to negotiate peace, many Israelis settled for security. Now, with neither peace nor security, a divided and traumatized Israel faces its darkest hour. It is still too early to predict how or when the war will end, but certain steps can already be taken to improve the post-war reality.
Social Media
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In our final episode of this season of "Speaking Freely", we hosted Shlomo Aharonishki, a former Chief of Police and currently a member of the Civil Investigation Committee, who brings a unique perspective on law enforcement and civilian oversight systems in Israel. We discussed the key challenges faced by the police, the mechanisms of checks and balances within the security system, and the role of investigation committees in preventing future systemic failures. Watch it on our YouTube (with video): https://youtu.be/bJLHXKQ6J_k Or listen to it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ARU2fE6OP6gL0V7YzDPmM
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We have another episode of our Speaking Freely podcast for you! Featuring Ibrahim Abu Ahmad, an influential figure in liberal Arab society in Israel. We will discuss the integration of liberal values in a socially, politically, and culturally conservative environment, touching on issues such as equality of rights, freedom of expression, and the role of religion. We will explore the connections between the unique situation of the Arab minority in Israel and universal liberal values, as well as the ability to implement these values in the complex local reality. Watch it on our YouTube (with video): https://youtu.be/YMuxYZb5-I4 Or listen to it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/18OTnHgYoF3U8sdGOBcyTG
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What a Better Way to Wrap a Challenging Year in Jerusalem? An inspiring Social Impact Hackathon, held in partnership with Einar JYC - إينار مركز الشباب المقدسي in East Jerusalem and with the professional guidance of ASPER - HUJI Innovate - מרכז החדשנות והיזמות של האוניברסיטה העברית and Sigma Labs JRS, brought together creativity, collaboration, and a strong sense of community! In a reality where Palestinian youth face economic challenges, political instability, limited social spaces, and the monotony of daily routines, this hackathon was a powerful reminder of the resilience and potential of East Jerusalem’s youth. Together, we tackled fostering social participation and building stronger youth networks, with 11 teams from various universities developing impactful solutions. Over 90 participants, mentors, judges, and volunteers joined forces through hands-on workshops on ideation, market research, and pitching, culminating in 3 outstanding teams being crowned winners. They will now be mentored by Sigma Labs to bring their ideas to life. This event wasn’t just about innovation; it was about building connections, sharing ideas, and proving that youth have the power to transform their societies. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this journey a success!
