Thank G-d for Regavim

Regavim Activities

“Do any of you have the slightest clue what’s actually going on out in the field?”In a court hearing of our third petition against the Beit Fajar quarry, the largest illegal Arab quarry in the country, Regavim presented incontrovertible documentation of the massive scale of the daily operations at the quarry – while the government hasn’t bothered to  inspect the site even once over the past two years or examine the damage being done to archaeological treasures. The judge was shocked by the state’s claim that no further harm to archeology is being done and that the situation at the site is “unchanged” – and order the government to do its homework and come back within two months with a full field report, aerial photos and expert analysis.

Read about the Beit Fajar quarry hearing and Regavim’s ongoing efforts to protect our national historical and environmental treasures 

National Dump: The Tragic Case of Nachal Beer Sheva
We took Ynet’s environmental reporter out on tour to illustrate how the Negev should look, using the case of the Beer Sheva Stream, a small gem of natural beauty in southern Israel, as an example: The portion of the stream that runs through the IDF’s Nevatim base is well-preserved, clean and flowering, but the portion of the stream that is located in the Al Zarnog squatters’ campis completely polluted, choked with raw sewage, domestic and industrial trash and animal carcasses. Read this “day in the life” tale of contrasts in the Negev here or read the Hebrew-language story in Ynet here  >>>
Around the world and back: Regavim in The Hague
Naomi Kahn, Director of Regavim’s International Division, participated in an international conference convened by thinc. – The Hague Initiative for International Cooperation  – titled “Israel on Trial: The political and legal fight against Israel in the UN and other institutions – and possible ways forward.”

The conference brought together academics and activists, experts in international law, European policy makers and representatives of leading think-tanks and civil society organizations from across Europe, the United States, Israel – and as far afield as Australia – for a high-level discussion of current realities, policies and challenges facing Israel and Zionists around the world. Regavim’s presentation added an invaluable dimension to the discussion, providing documentation and analysis of the outcomes of European policy. Read more

Minister Yitzchak Wasserlauf: Jewish demography in the Negev is a national imperative”We hosted Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee on a land-and-air tour of the Negev for a first-hand view of the challenge of illegal Bedouin squatters’ camps and the government’s failed policies. We presented our “Sdeh Boker Initiative,” Regavim’s vision for the future of the Negev. The tour laid the foundations for what we anticipate will be a productive working relationship, and we look forward to seeing real improvement on the ground. Read more here >>>

Regavim demands an end to the anarchy!
Along with our efforts to advocate for judicial reform, to make the facts accessible to the public, to explain and illustrate the crucial nature of the proposed corrections to the balance of power, we took up the cause of staunching the anarchy that has been allowed to run rampant under the protection of the Israel Police and the encouragement of leftist MKs. We filed complaints against the defacing of synagogues and public property in Jerusalem, as well as the police policy that is wreaking havoc on the public’s freedom of movement. Read early coverage here

The gigantic illegal commercial center – now a little less dangerous
Our petition against the Kfar Kassem commercial zone – the largest, and the most illegal, in Israel – is making positive waves even before a final decision is handed down: The judge ordered Netivei Yisrael, the Israel Roadworks Company, to be included as a respondent due to the hazards to motorists on Route 5. Netivei Yisrael recently constructed a barrier between the entrances to the commercial zone and the main highway in an attempt to prevent adding even more grim statistics to the long list of accidents at the site. Although we welcome this important life-saving measure, we continue to demand that the government contend with the cause of the problem, not merely with the results: The high rate of accidents is the inevitable result of the brisk, bustling traffic generated by the illegal commercial zone. See our video on the case here, or Watch Regavim’s Meir Deutsch Channel 14 television interview (Hebrew) here  >>>

New viral video: A clear majority of MKs support judicial reform!
Aside from our ongoing activities, we have dedicated considerable time and effort to hasbara – public diplomacy –  to generate public support for the judicial reforms that are so crucial to restoring political power to Israel’s democratically elected government. Our newest video clip, which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times via social media and other digital platforms, proves that there is a solid majority of members of Knesset who support judicial reform! Watch the (Hebrew) video here

Mass demonstration – Thursday 27 April:
We won’t let them overrule our vote!

We are proud to be a part of the group effort launched by a consortium of Zionist organizations supporting judicial reform. We call upon you to join us at the mass demonstration scheduled for 6 Iyar (the day after Yom HaAtzmau’t) 27 April (this coming Thursday!)   in Jerusalem.

The Knesset Land of Israel Caucus: Nationalist, Zionist leadership in Israel’s legislative branch
The Land of Israel Cuacus, headed by MKs Limor Sonn Har-Melekh, Yoel (Yuli) Edelstein and Simcha Rothman, was launched this past month – and Regavim resumed its leading role in bringing together ministers, governors and mayors and representatives of non-government organizations to serve as a forum for insuring that the government’s coalition agreements regarding are implemented in full,  throughout the Land of Israel. The newly-reconstituted Caucus – the largest in the Knesset – will serve as “the national guard within the government,” and Regavim will continue to take an important role as a member of the caucus, providing Zionist leadership and supporting the government in the face of internal and external pressures that seek to strip away Israel’s governance and sovereignty. Read more here or in Hebrew here

The Regavim Prize for 5783:  Final call for nominations!
Can you think of someone who inspires or innovates, someone who deserves recognition as a  protector of our national resources in the legal, media or public diplomacy arenas that you believe should be recognized, emulated and celebrated? The final call for nominations for this year’s Regavim Prize, which will be awarded at our gala Jerusalem Day celebration, the annual Regavim event that has become a much-anticipated Zionist gathering marking the reunification of our eternal capital and the achievements and challenges in which Regavim has taken a leadership role. Nominate your candidate today using our online form