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Im Tirtzu Activities & Achievements Academic Year תשע"ח 2017-18 Im Tirtzu Activities & Achievements Annual Summary Highlights “Im Tirtzu is, in my opinion, the most influential movement in Israel in recent years.” Carmi Gillon, former Director of the Shabak (Israel Security Agency). August 26, 2018 Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked at Im Tirtzu's Annual Conference 2 Over 2 laws inspired by Im 15,000,000 Tirtzu were passed in the Knesset views and 40,000,000 Prime Minister reach on videos posted by Netanyahu IMTI on social media networks adopted our language regarding campus/ the New Israel Fund 13 pre-army academy tours to Hebron IMTI-inspired Academic 4 tours and 3 lectures Code of Ethics to visiting Chinese students was adopted by the Council for Higher Education Over 1,500 mentions in a variety of media outlets. Increased campus presence from IMTI’s Zionist Hasbara to campuses 15 20 Center enlisted the support of 1,500 Israeli Friends of Council IMTI together with over for Higher of financial Education $125,000 support. instructed universities to balance biased legal Jerusalem Now & Forever clinics following an IMTI report 4 photo exhibit displays Commission of inquiry Over students 6,500 established following IMTI exposure attended over 50 IMTI lectures of imprisoned terrorists harassing female prison guards 3 Combating BDS from Within continued to expose and combat the radical NGOs funded by the New Israel IMTI Fund and foreign governments that work to harm Israel and IDF soldiers. “Ridding Israel of the New Israel Fund” IMTI released a video game depicting how A new IMTI campaign against the New Israel NIF-backed radical NGOs harass IDF soldiers. Fund included a giant billboard on Tel-Aviv’s largest highway. IMTI CEO Matan Peleg debates NIF President, ”The New Israel Fund Donated 300 Million Talia Sasson. NIS to Anti-Israel Activities” PM Netanyahu shared a video produced by Im Tirtzu on the NIF’s vast anti-Israel funding. 4 Education Minister cancels event with “The New Israel Fund Raised over 600 the NIF’s flagship grantee, the “Association Thousand Shekels to Prevent the Removal for Civil Rights in Israel,” after IMTI together of the Illegal Migrants” with bereaved families exposed the NGO’s IMTI exposed the money trail behind the New persistent defense of terrorists. Israel Fund-backed campaign to undermine the government’s decision to deport illegal migrants. “This is not the ‘Breaking the Silence bill,’ it’s the ‘Im Tirtzu bill.’” Chairwoman of the far-Left Meretz Party, In a two-part feature on the New Israel Tamar Zandberg, condemns the IMTI-inspired Fund published by HaMakor, Israel’s most law passed to ban “Breaking the Silence” from popular investigative journalist program, IMTI speaking in schools. was constantly mentioned as the primary opposition to the NIF. 5 Combating BDS from Within IMTI assisted a group of over 100 bereaved families to establish a new organization, the “Choosing Life Forum.” After bringing the lavish benefits enjoyed by terrorists in Israeli prisons to Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan’s attention, he announced Following a letter sent by Im Tirtzu together the formation of an examination committee. with the “Choosing Life Forum” to the Minister of Public Security, jailed Hamas terrorists were banned from watching the World Cup games. Videos and photos within the framework of an IMTI initiative to expose the activities of radical-leftists who film and harass IDF soldiers reached over 2,000,000 people on social media. 6 “Im Tirtzu to Be’er Sheva Mayor: Don’t Give Following a widely publicized petition by 60 a Hand to the Anti-Semitic BDS Conference high schoolers against IDF enlistment, IMTI’s in the City” Youth Branch initiated a counter, pro-IDF After learning that a conference of pro-BDS petition that received thousands signatures group “Coalition of Women for Peace,” was set from high schoolers across the country. Pictured: 15-year-old Ilay Harel of Im Tirtzu’s Youth Division. to take place in a government-funded venue in Be’er Sheva, IMTI sent a letter to the mayor who subsequently cancelled the event. IMTI Director of Policy, Alon Schvartzer, debates chairwoman of the far-Left Meretz party, Tamar Zandberg. 7 Fighting for Academic Freedom continued Im Tirtzu to lead the fight for academic freedom and against anti-Zionist bias. The Council for Higher Education announced the adoption of the academic code of ethics, which was directly inspired by Im Tirtzu. “Im Tirtzu has taken over political discourse in Israel,” wrote an Haaretz editorial about the code of ethics. “With Pressure from Bennett – The Council For Higher Education Committee Calls to Introduce Right-Wing Academics into Legal Clinics” “A report by the right-wing movement Im Tirtzu showed how the clinics in Haifa University IMTI activists hold flags and pictures of terror offer legal consultation to terrorists…” victims while disrupting a moment of silence for Hamas terrorists staged by Arab students. 8 Haaretz was quick to “blame” Im Tirtzu for the important legislation applying Israeli law on Ariel University and other academic institutions of higher learning in Judea and Samaria. IMTI launched a new hotline where students could call and report instances of anti-Zionist politicization in academia. After the Wingate Institute ordered students to remove Israeli flags from their dormitory so as to not offend other students, Im Tirtzu pushed the story in the media and distributed hundreds of flags over the campus. The following day, the students woke up to find Channel 10 reports on an inciting protest brand new flags hanging throughout Wingate. held at Tel-Aviv University that was filmed by IMTI activists. Over the course of the year, IMTI activists exposed and staged counter demonstrations to a number of anti-Israel protests held on campuses. 9 Educating Students in Zionism Seminars for Zionist Thought, Hebron tours, Israel Victory IMTI’s Project panels and other educational programs attracted thousands of students and provided a powerful Zionist boost on campuses throughout the country. Twitter post depicting the competing tours of IMTI launched a new launched a unique Im Tirtzu and Breaking the Silence in Hebron. project aimed at educating Chinese students studying abroad in Israel. Israel Victory Project panel at Ariel University. Israel Victory Project panel in Kibbutzim College. 10 IMTI activists in collaboration with Dozens of IMTI activists planted olive trees Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights distributed and learned to work the land at the Oz Ve’gaon thousands of copies of the book, “The Jewish nature preserve. People’s Rights to the Land of Israel,” on campuses across the country. Some of Our Speakers Jerusalem Mayor Sderot Mayor Katzrin Mayor Author Former Education and Interior Minister Nir Barkat Alon Davidi Dmitry Apartzev Caroline Glick Gideon Saar Olympic Medalist MK Sharren Maj. Gen. MK Oded Forer Maj. Gen. Yarden Gerbi Haskel Uzi Dayan Amram Mitzna Maj. Gen. Brig. Gen. Yossi Dr. Mordechai Former MK Former MK Amiram Levin Kuperwasser Kedar Yinon Magal Sharon Gal 11 Education in the Knesset Im Tirtzu works outside the Knesset and is not affiliated Although with any political party, making decision makers aware of our core issues was and remains an important mission. Following an IMTI report, the Knesset passed National Service preferential employment a law granting two academic credits to IDF opportunities in civil service, the Civil Service reservists. Commission announced that it would be adopting this policy. An IMTI-inspired law prohibits “Breaking the Silence” and NGOs that work against the IDF from speaking in schools run by the Ministry of Education. After IMTI published a report and documented numerous incidents of radical leftists who film and harass IDF soldiers on Following an IMTI-inspired bill that would active duty, a bill was proposed to end this grant minorities who served in the IDF or phenomenon. 12 IMTI activist Sarah Nisani speaks at the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality about nationalistically motivated sexual harassment. Days following IMTI’s campaign against IMTI Director of Policy, Alon Schvartzer, the NIF, legislation was submitted to cut all speaks at the Knesset Education Committee governmental ties with the organization. that convened after IMTI exposed the activities of a school principal who was openly supporting draft-dodging. 13 Spreading Zionism the year IMTI engaged in an array of Throughout various pro-Israel activities IMTI’s Jerusalem Now & Forever photo Ramos, whom Hail admired and named his exhibit was displayed in several locations son after, and an engraved plaque of the across North America, including Montreal’s team’s stadium bearing the words, “In memory Kandy Gallery, one of the largest solo artist of Hail.” IMTI received the items from the Real galleries in North America. Madrid soccer team after reaching out to them and telling them Hail’s story. IMTI activists volunteer packaging food for families in need ahead of the holidays. Throughout the year IMTI’s student activists organized moments of silence and memorials for victims of terror. IMTI presented the father of murdered Druze policeman Hail Stawi with a signed jersey of Real Madrid soccer star Sergio 14 Former Stern Group member Ezra Yachin speaks at IMTI’s annual commemoration Hundreds joined IMTI’s “Zionist convoy” ceremony for Avshalom Feinberg, one of the to the Gaza periphery to show solidarity with founders and leaders of the NILI underground the residents suffering from Hamas rockets group. and incendiary bombs. The convoy visited a number of cities and IDF and firefighter bases. A video IMTI produced of Druze activist Hazar Gadben discussing the Nation-State Law reached over 500,000 people on social media. IMTI activists distribute jelly donuts to IDF soldiers on Hanukkah. After IMTI’s post about professional soccer captain and IDF reservist Menashe Zalka went viral, Menashe turned into a cultural sensation.
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