Help the people of East Jerusalem access the welfare services they are entitled to, and diffuse tensions between Palestinian residents and the Israeli State.

About the Project

The Attaa Assistance Center for the Rights of East Jerusalem Residents was established in 2004 to help Arab people in East Jerusalem navigate the legal and health systems of the State of Israel. As Permanent Residents rather than full Israeli citizens, the 350,000 Arabs living in Jerusalem - some 40% of the citys total population - face barriers to accessing Israeli welfare schemes, as granted to them in international law.

Permanent Residents of Jerusalem are entitled to all health, education, welfare and other municipal services supplied by the State of Israel, to which they also pay tax. In reality, however, very few Arab residents have access to them. Most do not speak Hebrew, and fear being seen as collaborating with the occupying regime.

The result is that many do not receive welfare payments or property tax discounts, and are unable to access health care, or work legally. At present, 78% live under the poverty line.

How it works

The center guides residents through paperwork and claims with the National Insurance Institute, Israel Ministry of Interior, Israeli housing organisations. They help to fill out forms and gather documentation, complete affidavits, translate letters into Hebrew, and obtain access to lawyers when needed.

The Center also raises awareness of these rights, through frequent lectures, workshops, community meetings and social media posts. Going forward, the center aims to strengthen their presence in the Issawiyah neighbourhood, where tensions have increased in the past year.

Goals

1. Help more than 35 people from Issawiyah, by filling out forms, legal advice, affidavits etc.

2. Provide individuals with personalised and in-depth consultations to understand their case well, and help them to pursue their rights step-by-step. To guide them through the process, first by teaching and raising awareness of the relevant rights, then by filling out necessary forms in Hebrew, and, if required, arranging access to a lawyer.

3. Raise awareness of rights among Arab residents through online engagement and public activities

4. Increase individual consultations by expanding the hours and locations of drop-in centres.