18 October 2012

From the inane to the profound, the Internet continues to shape and reshape our world. But, of course, it has a dark side. In Israel, online sites and social networks have become sources of incitement to violence and intolerance. Hateful comments, threats, and racist remarks against individuals and ethnic groups have become an integral part of the day-to-day experience of hundreds of thousands of Internet users in Israel.

Fighting intolerance and incitement while encouraging inclusion and democracy are at the core of NIF’s mission. But these modern battles require innovative and creative solutions.

NIF is proud to announce the launch of a unique competition for projects that will work to address online hate speech. The winning projects, which will be announced next month in Israel, will be awarded grants totaling 100,000 NIS.

We invite the general public, social activists, organizations, professionals, bloggers and social media experts to propose new and creative solutions. Up to 15 finalists will be invited to make a brief presentation of their projects at a public event in Tel Aviv on November 13. The prizes will be used to implement the winning project for one year.

The competition has been timed to coincide with the anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, the ultimate symbol of the tragic consequences of incitement to violence.

In addition to the competition, NIF is undertaking a comprehensive survey to identify those most involved in inciting racism and violence, and those most frequently targeted. The survey results will also be published close to the Rabin anniversary.