On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Israel LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Israel country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Israel COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Israel.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Israel is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Israel was one of the participating states in the drafting of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and thus became a state Party upon ratification in 1954 and 1968. Furthermore, in 1968, Israel ratified the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, however, it has not yet ratified its twin UN Convention on Statelessness, the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Israel is yet to adopt national refugee legislation. According to the UNHCR, over the last 15 years, over 80,000 persons have sought asylum and less than 1 percent were granted refugee status or protection. As such, the Israeli government pursues measures in tandem with the UNHCR to come to decisions on how best to address issues of refugee rights and protection.
Legal aid organisations
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Address: Hatsfira 18, Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel: (+972) 54-929-8892
Email: info@ardc-israel.org
ARDC began its work as a humanitarian aid organisation, originally providing new arrivals with shelter, food, and medical attention. As needs evolved, however, ARDC began offering language classes, psychosocial and paralegal assistance, as well as High Education and Economic Inclusion programmes. In the last several years, ARDC has shifted its main focus from legal aid to social and economic inclusion; however, it still provides personalized assistance and casework in tandem with vocational courses and coding education and development.
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Israel Headquarters Address: 1 Zeitlin Street, Suite # 313-314, Tel Aviv 64956
Tel: +972-(0)3-6911322
Fax: +972-(0)3-6911336
Email: info@hias.org
HIAS grants scholarships to immigrants (olim) who have recently immigrated to Israel. HIAS also liaises with the Israeli government and UNHCR to provide protections to refugees upon arrival including the provision of legal and paralegal aid to prevent deportation and reunite families. All of HIAS’s legal support is both free and holistic, including psychosocial support services to victims of gender-based violence and torture.
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Address: 75 Nahalat Binyamin Street, Tel Aviv, 6515417
Tel: +972 (0)3 560 25 30 or +927 (0)3 560 2530
Fax: +972 (0)3 560 51 75
Email: info@hotline.org.il
Contact Person: Asaf Weitzen, Co-ordinator of the Legal Department (asaf@hotline.org.il)
The HRM is an organisation dedicated to promoting the rights of undocumented migrant workers and refugees, as well as eliminating human trafficking in Israel. They aim to build a more just, equitable society through the provision of crisis intervention teleworkers, legal action and petitions, and public policy activism. HRM will file suits and petitions promoting public accountability and enforcement of the rule of law. Their hotline is opened on Sundays (09:00-12:00 and 15:00-18:00), Tuesdays (09:00-13:00), Wednesdays (14:00-18:00) and Thursdays (09:00-13:00).
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Address: Buchmann Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University
Tel: +972 (0)3 64 05 264
Contact Person: Anat Ben-Dor (anatbd@post.tau.ac.il)
The Refugee Rights Clinic at Tel Aviv University was established in 2002 to oversee the implementation of the 1951 Refugee Convention within the Israeli legal system. The Clinic specializes in the legal rights of refugees and asylum seekers, providing pro bono representation in various contexts including release from detention, application for legal status based on asylum, humanitarian, or other grounds; and key issues related to access to and protection of civil, economic, and social rights.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
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Address: Golomb St., Tel Aviv, 6617141 52
Tel: 072-2513838
Fax: 072-2513837
Email: info@assaf.org.il
ASSAF Advocacy and Support Centre
Address: Golomb St., Tel Aviv 53
Tel: 055-6650022
ASSAF supports refugees and asylum seekers in Israel through a variety of advocacy and practical support programmes. One of which includes the Advocacy and Support Centre which will assist refugees upon arrival with employment, accommodation, psychosocial support services, and participation in youth groups. To conduct the Centre for assistance, you can call the ASSAF Advocacy and Support Centre number to make an appointment between the hours of 11:00-10:00 on Sundays and Tuesdays.
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Address: 27 Montefiore Street, Tel Aviv, POB 14179 TLV 65793
Tel: +972 (0)3 52 50 005
Fax: +972 (0)3 52 50 001
Email: info@amnesty.org.il
Contact Person: Rona Moran, Refugees’ Rights Coordinator
AI, and in particular, the Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel Department, monitors the ongoing situation for refugees and asylum seekers in Israel. Although AI does not provide legal aid, it can provide referrals and information of others local organisations that do have such support services. AI releases reports and publications on a variety of regional human rights issues including women’s rights, freedom of expression, and the expulsion of Palestinians from public lands.
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Address: 75 Nahalat Binyamin St. Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel: +972 (0)3 52 56 29 084 or +972 (0)3 54 74 34 579
Contact: www.bnaidarfur.org/contact/
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Address: 9 Dror St., 68135 Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel
Tel: +972 03-5133100
Fax: +972 03-6873029
Email: mail@phr.org.il
Contact Person: Sharon Barnett, Director of the Open Clinic (sharonb@phr.org.il)
Physicians for Human Rights Israel provides health care and medical assistance to those without access to Israel’s national health coverage, including those living in the Gaza Strip. They endeavor to assist with any request for medical aid, whether with direct treatment or payment for care, including the provision of contacts within insurance companies, health funds, hospitals, government ministries, and legal aid.
Israel LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Israel.
Israel COI
Find Israel Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023