Forty percent of Israeli humanitarian and international development organizations operating abroad reported a decline in international partnerships since the start of the war, according to new research by SID Israel, the umbrella organization for Israel’s international development and humanitarian aid community.
Around 60% have also reported that their ability to raise funds has been negatively affected since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. More than one-third say they have faced threats – and, in some cases, actual moves – to suspend cooperation.
The majority of the partnerships ended in a “subtle” way with no real communication or notification, SID CEO Ayelet Levin Karp told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. “It’s emails that don’t get answered and partnerships that suddenly are not working out.”
She also said there has been a major pullback of Jewish donors.
“A lot of donors that would traditionally donate to what we call tikkun olam, or looking at the Israeli and Jewish action that is repairing the world, suddenly their priorities kind of shifted.”
However, while Levin Karp said all of this was “very disappointing and sad,” she told the Post that it also makes her proud of the development community, which is still working hard despite everything.
“There were a few organizations that closed, but the vast majority are still active and doing really amazing work throughout the world,” she said. “To have still within yourself that strength and that drive to be there and to look outwards, I think, is really remarkable. Especially when you get that pushback from some of your colleagues and your investors, donors, to keep your eye on the goal and not ask permission from anyone to do good, because that’s what you think needs to be done, and that’s the kind of country you want to live in. It’s remarkable.”
It is not yet clear if the partnerships will be re-established after the war is fully over. Levin Karp said she feels that if the organizations keep showing up and doing important work, at least some of these partnerships will come around.
“I’m feeling very optimistic looking at the resilience of our community and the commitment of the people. Just the fact that we’re doing a conference, you know, in Israel, in Tel Aviv, and we have over 500 people registered already for the conference.”
SID Israel’s annual conference
SID Israel’s annual conference is set to be held on January 20 in Tel Aviv.
Levin Karp said she wants people to understand just how many development organizations there are.
“We have over 60 registered NGOs. The size of the activity and the really amazing projects and work that is done and that is changing the lives of people globally, millions of lives probably, I don’t think is spoken about enough.
“I think at this specific point in Jewish history, the decision to look outwards and to be there also for people that need us and to make sure that the ‘never again’ that we promised ourselves is not only about never again for us, but never again for anybody in trouble. I think it’s a very important decision to make now about who we are and what we are fighting to be, even when we get pushback from the world or from people who think they know better about who we are and what we’re about.”
The study was carried out on 20 of the 60 aid and development organizations, companies, and representatives of academic programs operating in Israel and abroad.
The findings illustrate the significant impact the war in Gaza has had on organizations’ ability to operate, mobilize resources, and plan long-term activity, alongside increasing political pressure, experiences of antisemitism, and a growing sense of international isolation.
At the same time, as Levin Karp said, the survey shows that despite the challenges, most organizations have not collapsed or ceased operations.
Nevertheless, reports of antisemitism appeared throughout the responses given by the organizations. About 60% of organizations reported experiences of anti-Israeli or antisemitic incidents, either personally or among colleagues.
Staff and volunteers also reported a decline in personal security, fear of operating in the field, and, in some cases, staff departures and layoffs.
More than a quarter of respondents also said they had been asked, or required, to address political positions regarding the war as part of their professional work.
“Precisely at a time when criticism of Israel and international isolation are growing, it is crucial to strengthen Israel’s positive contribution to the world and to insist on being part of the solution to the most pressing global challenges,” Levin Karp added. “This moment calls for stronger partnerships, shared thinking, and recognition of the importance of Israeli humanitarian work on the international stage.”