Policy Papers: Philanthropy in Israel

The Shrinking Civic Space in Israel - In recent months, Israel has witnessed governmental actions that restrict the operational space for civil society and reflect a broader pattern of harm. These measures target a wide range of organizations—including cultural, welfare, and academic institutions—and are directed particularly at government critics, those refusing demands for “loyalty,” and human rights organizations, thereby undermining the foundations of an independent civil society. This reality raises questions about the role of philanthropy—not only as a supporter of social activity, but as an actor required to defend the very civic space within which it operates and from which it derives its legitimacy.

February 2026

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