Update on the Situation in Israel and Guidance for Funders

Once again, Israel finds itself waging war on different fronts. Israeli cities are under attack, and despite the success of Israel missile defense systems, there have been casualties to deplore and the entire country is on edge, running to shelters and facing uncertainty in a rapidly evolving context.

Again, our Israeli team has been called to fulfill a critical role in liaising with the field and assessing the situation, so that we can provide JFN members with up-to-date information about needs on the ground. As always, we are in awe at the resilience and professionality of our Israeli team, who have been dealing with one emergency after another for the past two-and-a-half years.

Our team is in close contact with civil society organizations, the Home Front Command, government ministries, and local authorities. Sadly, but fortunately, over the past two-and-a-half years, we have amassed significant knowledge and experience, as well as key relationships with all relevant players. Our goal, as always, is to identify areas where philanthropy can be most impactful during these times and guide our members on how best to deploy their grantmaking.

Here are some data points about the ongoing situation:

• The airspace over Israel is closed, and the highest level of protective guidelines is in place. Workplaces are closed except for essential services, the education system is closed, and public gatherings are restricted.
• Approximately 2,841 people have been evacuated – mostly from Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh. While large, this number is manageable by the local authorities, that have relocated people to hotels. The Israeli tax authority is responsible for processing individual requests for economic assistance and repairs. The Federation of Local Authorities is working in coordination with the Ministries of Welfare, Health, Education, the Property Tax Authority, and others at all impact sites in direct response to the affected population.
• There have been 12 fatalities in Israel and ~ 1,369 injured, most of them light to moderate.
• There are 133,000 Israelis stranded abroad. The government is expected to start repatriation flights from March 4 and over the next 7–10 days.

In general, the relief situation on the ground is under control and adequately managed by the authorities, so in the realm of direct relief we don’t see (as of today) any acute philanthropic need. Of course, that may change in the next few days. However, there are several systemic issues to focus on, some of which haven’t been properly addressed since the last military confrontation. These issues are becoming more pronounced during this round of fighting and we recommend continued attention to them.

• Accessibility to bomb shelters: Approximately one third of Israeli citizens are not adequately protected from missile fire. More than 20 percent of public shelters are in poor condition or not usable. As a result, many citizens are gathering in public spaces such as light rail stations and staying there overnight. These locations are not designed for such use, leading to equipment and maintenance gaps, as well as tensions between different populations sharing these spaces. Although more than 300 mass bomb shelters have been opened across the country, if the military operation continues, we expect growing needs in these locations.
• Protection needs in Arab society: This is a sensitive issue reflected in a severe shortage of shelters in Arab communities, as well as gaps in the accessibility of emergency instructions and awareness during attacks.
• Vulnerable populations, with particular emphasis on the elderly and people with disabilities: Civil society organizations, together with representatives from the Ministry of Welfare, are working to reach elderly residents and provide food and medication. There are growing needs in those areas.
• The northern border: On March 1, that front has reignited with attacks from Hezbollah. There, the impact is cumulative, as the consequences of the previous rounds of hostilities haven’t been addressed. Some communities still lack adequate protection, and many residents are still displaced. Once again, their livelihoods and sense of security are being disrupted. If fire from Hezbollah continues, residents will be required to remain in protected areas for prolonged periods. At this time, however, evacuation of communities is not anticipated, and services will be delivered locally.
• Resilience and mental health: This ongoing challenge has accompanied us since the October 7 massacre and the Iron Swords war, and is intensifying once again. The need for emotional and psychological support is increasing among the general population and especially among those directly affected. Resilience centers and civil society organizations in the mental health field have mobilized immediately to respond on the ground.
• Reserve duty: Currently, 110,000 reservists have been called up. Once again, the same population is carrying the burden, having already served hundreds of cumulative days. Alongside disruptions to businesses and academic studies, the families of reservists are expected to face extraordinary strain in addition to the broader challenges affecting the entire population.
• Education: On Thursday, following the Purim holiday, the education system is expected to resume remotely. That is far from ideal, and to the natural difficulties of remote learning there’s the added challenge of staff shortages as many people have been called up. As a result, risk factors increase for youth who lack stable educational and social frameworks.

In light of this evolving landscape, to those funders seeking guidance we suggest the following:

• Do not rush to respond. The situation is still evolving, and at this stage, most immediate needs are being addressed by the relevant authorities. In these cases, the most serious and long-term needs emerge after the acute phase.
• As always, we recommend reaching out to the organizations you already support, your partners on the ground, to check on their well-being and that of their teams, to understand what they need, and how you can assist.
• Continue to monitor developments. Should gaps emerge between needs and responses, we will update you accordingly.

Helpful links to be aware of:

• Government Emergency Portal
• Reorganizing Together (in Hebrew)
• Interactive map of essential services (in Hebrew)
• Civil Leadership emergency command center (in Hebrew)

As always, our concierge service can direct you to relevant JFN team members who can respond to specific questions and requests. You can also contact Anat Danis, JFN Israel Director of Philanthropy for Regional Recovery.

Andrés Spokoiny
President & CEO, Jewish Funders Network

Sigal Yaniv Feller
Executive Director, JFN Israel