Rights Advocacy
JICC’s Atta’a Center assists East Jerusalemite Palestinian residents to overcome bureaucratic, language and cultural obstacles in order to access their civil, health, and welfare rights, guaranteed to them by Israeli and international law.
Impact
8.5K
East Jerusalemites receive social and economic rights advocacy
20M+
In public funds return to the community via rights-based discounts
200K
Followers on social media platforms
18
Volunteer lawyers and advocates provide pro-bono services
Context
Structural obstacles to basic rights and services stem from the fact that most Jerusalemite Palestinians carry permanent residency status, but not Israeli citizenship.
Maintaining residency status requires Jerusalemite Palestinians to prove to local authorities that they live and reside in the city, and a failure to do so means that this status can be revoked. This complex bureaucratic arrangement is unparalleled elsewhere in Israel and is complicated first by a general lack of trust between this community and Israeli institutions, and second because Jerusalemite Arabs tend not to be proficient in Hebrew, the official language used in government offices.
Strategies
Walk-in and On-line
Residents access Atta’a services in Arabic via any of six intake centers that are spread throughout the city, via a web-based hotline service, and through reliable information hubs on social media.
Facilitating Connections
Atta’a serves as a bridge between East Jerusalem families and the institutions responsible for their rights and services. Through established relationships with relevant authorities, including the National Insurance Institute, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health, and the Jerusalem Municipality, our staff helps families navigate systems more effectively and connect them with the support they need.
Holistic Approach
Atta’a staff are trained to work with the full complement of rights afforded to East Jerusalemite families, and after conducting a professional assessment are able to identify gaps. They then develop a personalized work plan and initiate the necessary connections with relevant authorities.
Relevant Staff
Daud Alian
Atta’a Center Director