A. To conduct “impact litigations” to pursue respect of civil rights and promote social justice and equality.
B. To promote policies which ensure equal opportunity for Ethiopian-Israelis.
C. To improve the community’s access to the legal system.

When Ethiopian Jews arrived in Israel in the 1980s and 1990s, they were shocked by and oftentimes averse to the Westernized Israeli culture and social life. They lacked basic skills required to navigate the judicial and/or social systems and had no ability or knowledge necessary to handle the Israeli government bureaucracy. Traditionally, the Ethiopian culture provided its most experienced older members with the role and the authority to practice community mediation to resolve disputes and make community decisions honored by all. Therefore, there was no need for advocacy skills or use of legal mechanisms. For these Ethiopian immigrants, the Israeli legal system was a total enigma. All the more so, based on their experiences from their country of origin, Ethiopians did not expect the government to act in their interest or on their behalf. Without a doubt, these cultural differences, among other things, served as obstacles to the community’s integration into Israeli society.
Of particular concern was the discrimination with which the community was confronted: stigmatization hampered their opportunities to access their basic rights. Such discriminatory attitudes made their integration into mainstream Israeli society problematic and caused social and economic difficulties. Even more so, the discriminatory and racist treatment suffered by the community’s members prevented, and continues to prevent, their full assimilation into Israeli society.

In an effort to address this problem and strengthen the community’s collective self-esteem, further the community’s member’s integration into Israeli society, promote the rule of law and guarantee their civil rights, Tebeka provides legal representation in cases which help initiate social change – "impact litigation". Using litigation and legal advocacy, Tebeka sets long-lasting precedents which promote equality for the Ethiopian-Israeli community and by extension for other minority groups in Israel as well.

In April 2010, Tebeka won a hard-fought case that began in 2004 involving five Ethiopian Israeli schoolchildren who were expelled from their kindergarten classes in Arad because of their ethnic backgrounds. The judicial ruling in favor of our clients ordered the Municipality of Arad and the Ministry of Education to pay 280,000 Shekels (approximately $75,000) in damages to the children and their families.
The case began in 2004, when the children arrived in Israel with their families and were enrolled in local kindergartens. Just one month after the start of the 2004-2005 school-year, the Municipality of Arad decided there were too many Ethiopian children in the kindergarten classes in question, and expelled all five children. The kids remained out of school for over six months and their passage to the next class was delayed by a year. Moreover, the parents were forced to stay at home with their children rather than participate in Hebrew classes offered to new immigrants upon arrival in Israel.
Tebeka was informed of the situation in January 2005 and took immediate action. We wrote letters to the Municipality of Arad and the Ministry of Education, and requested an interim injunction by the court. As a result, the children were able to return to their kindergarten classes in March and May 2005.
Following the injunction, Tebeka filed suit against the Municipality of Arad and the Ministry of Education as part of our impact litigation work. Last week’s verdict finding both parties guilty of violating the prohibition against discrimination is a measure of justice for the children and their families, and for everyone dedicated to the preservation of civil rights in Israel.

In 2007, the Israeli media exposed the phenomena of discrimination against Ethiopian-Israeli students in the school system. Several schools refused to admit children of Ethiopian origin; as well, some schools segregated Ethiopian students from the rest of their peers. Tebeka submitted a petition to the Israeli High Court of Justice against the Minister of Education demanding the adoption of regulations mandating the imposition of strict economic sanctions on schools discriminating against Ethiopian-Israeli students. As a result of the petition, all the students in question were integrated into the above-mentioned schools.

Tebeka's activities go further than providing legal assistance to individuals. By taking it to the next level, Tebeka's advocacy aims to change policies and ensure equality on a national level. This project deterrs illegal behaviors, simantles discrimination and furthers multiculturalism and tolerance in Israeli society.

Tebeka’s Legal Advocacy Project aims to protect the fundamental rights of Ethiopian Israelis and to promote policies and initiatives that support their successful integration in Israel. Beyond that, the Legal Advocacy Project ultimately serves to help safeguard the civil liberties of all Israeli citizens and contribute meaningfully to the just and equitable rule of law in Israel.

Impact Litigation: Tebeka litigates cases before the lower courts and Israel’s High Court of Justice involving claims of discrimination and equal protection violations, often with community-wide and national impact.

Policy Initiatives: Tebeka works with Knesset members to enact legislation that protects minority rights in Israel and conducts watchdog activities to ensure these policies are enforced. Tebeka also collaborates with municipality leaders and public agency providers to develop sensible and culturally sensitive solutions that address the unique challenge facing Ethiopian immigrants in Israel.

Public Awareness Campaigns: Tebeka hosts conferences and seminars for Israeli jurists, politicians and public agency providers to advance their understanding of the social dynamics and legal issues facing Ethiopian Israelis. Tebeka spearheads media campaigns that spotlight discriminatory practices against Ethiopian Israeli individuals and the community as a whole. Tebeka also holds workshops and seminars to inform Ethiopian immigrants about their rights and responsibilities as citizens in a democracy.

Notable achievements through the Legal Advocacy Project include:

• Reversing school quota policies in numerous municipalities that restricted the number of Ethiopian Israeli children allowed to enroll in public schools and publicly-funded private schools
• Ending school segregation practices in numerous schools that prevented Ethiopian Israeli children from interacting with their Israeli-born peers
• Securing precedent-setting award damages in 2010 holding the Municipality of Arad and the Ministry of Education liable to Ethiopian Israeli families whose children were prevented from enrolling in their local schools
• Challenging racial profiling and police violence against Ethiopian Israelis
• Challenging civil rights violations against Ethiopian Israelis in the workplace, in their access to public places and in their provision of social entitlements
• Guaranteeing access to court translation services in Amharic
• Guaranteeing access to voting materials in Amharic
• Ensuring that all parents in Israel have access to legal counsel in child custody hearings where the State has taken action to remove children from their homes
• Protecting marriage equality rights for Ethiopian Israelis
• Helping establish a national day of remembrance for the 4,000 Ethiopian Jews who died en route to Israel during Operation Moses