Millions of Shekels and Suspicion of Law Violations: Will the Reform Association Be Closed?

A complaint has been filed with the Registrar of Associations against the 'Rabbis for Human Rights' association, demanding its immediate closure. The complaint by 'Betzalmo' alleges that the association received millions of shekels from foreign countries and churches without proper disclosure, and that its director ran a political campaign while exploiting the association's resources. The association denies the allegations.

A formal complaint has been submitted to the Registrar of Associations against the 'Rabbis for Human Rights' association (registered as 'Shomrei Mishpat – A Rabbinic Voice for Human Rights'), demanding a thorough investigation and even its immediate closure. The complaint, filed by the organization 'Betzalmo', includes a series of allegations of apparent legal violations. According to the attached documents, in 2026 the association received over three million shekels from foreign countries, including more than one and a half million shekels from the Norwegian Embassy for olive harvest activities, as well as hundreds of thousands of shekels from churches. It is further alleged that since its annual budget did not exceed the five million shekel threshold, this constitutes the majority of its funding, yet it does not publish proper disclosure as required by law. Another allegation concerns political involvement: the association's director, Avi Dabush, announced in April 2026 his candidacy in the primaries of the 'Democrats' party and was elected, while continuing his tenure at the association and allegedly exploiting its resources. It is also claimed that the association brings activists to harvest olives in the Burin area in violation of IDF orders. The association responded that it operates with full transparency and in accordance with the law.