LGBTQ-PHOBIA STATUS REPORT IN ISRAEL - 2023

2022 LGBTQ-PHOBIA STATUS REPORT IN ISRAEL

13

The Area of Violence in the Public Space: Rate of Violent Incidents in 2023 compared to 2022 10

2023 2022

93%

A 93% increase in cases of violence compared to 2022

2023 2022

127%

A 127% increase in physical violence compared to 2022

2023 2022

76%

A 76% increase in cases of damage to property compared to 2022

2023 2022

53%

A 53% increase in cases of blackmail and threats compared to 2022

The LGBTQ+ community in Israel has faced a longstanding history of exclusion, discrimination, and violence. Historically, the Supreme Court has been a pivotal institution in safeguarding the rights of community members and addressing inequality in resource EbbfNEuZfdŬ f|R{Rqŧ uYR `vPZNZEb qRWfqc EddfvdNRP M~ uYR vruZNR ZdZruRq Eu uYR MRXZddZdX fW ĠĞĠġŧ EdP Zur rvMrRpvRdu nqfXqRrrZfdŧ YEr qEZrRP rZXdZ’NEdu NfdNRqdr |ZuYZd nEqur fW uYR LGBTQ+ community regarding potential threats to their rights as a minority group, particularly in the absence of an independent judicial system to protect them. The public atmosphere surrounding the protests and discussions on judicial reform, as well as the active involvement of the LGBTQ+ community in these demonstrations, has had severe indirect consequences on the sense of security among LGBTQ+ individuals beyond the anticipated impacts of the reform itself. This is evident from the unusually high number of violent incident reports received by the Reporting Center in 2023. These indirect consequences can be categorized into two areas: Violence against community members at demonstrations - incidents such as verbal abuse, insults, flag tearing, and physical violence were reported. These acts are the result of inciting and divisive rhetoric and a lack of condemnation from governmental elements, primarily affecting minority groups. Consequently, LGBTQ+ demonstrators faced assaults for holding hands with their partners or for carrying the pride flag. Daily violence against community members amid the reform - this year, there has been ZdNZuZdX EdP PZ{ZrZ{R qYRufqZN Wqfc NRquEZd nvMbZN fW’NZEbr EdP fnZdZfd bREPRqrŬ 1YR PZqRNu impact of this incitement was evident in the demonstrations, but it also permeated other aspects of daily life for LGBTQ+ individuals. The increase in reports of violent incidents against the community underscores the perceived legitimacy for individuals and groups to act violently in public spaces. "I heard a group of teenagers on the street planning to remove the pride flag hanging on my house's window. I started to see sticks and flag-pulling from below and approached the window to scare them off. When I approached, and they saw me, some indeed fled, and others began to curse me, threaten, and call out phrases like 'Come down, let's see if you're a man.' To minimize interaction, I moved away from the window into the house, and the teenagers began throwing stones and bricks towards my house's window for a few minutes until they broke the window."

10 Physical violence, damage to property, blackmail and threats.