November 25, The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

"Whoever saves a single life, it is as if they have saved an entire world."

This saying from the Mishnah guides us in many of our cases. Today I want to share with you two stories of two women who we were privileged to assist.

As in many countries, women who suffer violence are among the most disadvantaged groups in Israel. This week, on November 25, we join people all around the world to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. One group of women we advocate for are women who are not Israeli citizens, (but who often have Israeli children), who have been victims of domestic violence. For these women, escaping the cycle of domestic violence by leaving abusive Israeli partners and husbands involves the risk of deportation and separation from their children. IRAC's Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO) is one of the few organizations in the country that champions these doubly vulnerable women. Here are two heartbreaking stories that demonstrate our efforts on behalf of these women.

Tahonia (name changed for privacy) came from Ethiopia to visit her sister Esther, an Israeli citizen, and met an Israeli man. They married and had two daughters. Unfortunately, this was not to be a fairy tale love story. Tahonia's husband was extremely violent, even abusing her when she was pregnant with their second daughter. She fled with their first daughter and gave birth to her second daughter in a women's shelter.

As a result of the skill and tenacity of LACO’s attorneys, the Population Authority published a procedure for non-citizen women who suffer domestic violence, which, if implemented, would allow them and their children to escape violent relationships without being deported. As leaving an abusive Israeli partner interrupts the gradual process of acquiring citizenship through marriage, this is a crucial policy. Without it, and without knowledge of it, they may remain in traumatizing and even life-threatening circumstances because these women fear deportation. When the Ministry of Interior failed to implement this procedure, we sued them and the Supreme Court ruled that in cases of Israeli children, the default should be to allow the mother to stay in Israel with her child – rather than being deported.

Tahonia applied for status under this procedure and after six months was able to leave the shelter and rent a home for her family. However, her status based on humanitarian considerations was not permanent, but more of a revocable privilege. LACO helped her receive temporary permit extensions while fighting for citizenship. Eight years ago, as this process dragged on, she had a third daughter with a non-Israeli father. She continued to apply for permanent status, but the fact that she had lived here for over 20 years and worked for many years at a hospital was not enough to obtain the Population Registry's approval. Even the fact that she had two daughters who were Israeli citizens (due to their Israeli father), one of whom had already served in the IDF and the other about to begin her service, was not enough. She and her youngest daughter, born to a non-Israeli man, were turned down repeatedly.

In 2021, Tahonia was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. While undergoing treatment, she could no longer work. Considering her condition, it was especially important to fight for her and her youngest daughter's permanent residency status. Ultimately, we succeeded. First for Tahonia, and then, just this past February, for her youngest daughter.

By this time, Tahonia’s cancer had spread. This past Saturday night, after two decades of struggle and worry, this brave and persistent mother passed away. We are thankful that Tahonia knew before she died that her youngest daughter’s future in Israel was finally secure and her daughter would be able to live here, where she had lived all her life and where her sisters are. I hope this provided Tahonia with some comfort.

The second story has a happier ending. Vorkanesh (name changed for privacy) is an Ethiopian mother of two children, both Israeli citizens. Like Tahonia, she fled an abusive Israeli husband and took refuge in a women’s shelter. In 2012 she received a temporary permit and in 2013 she submitted a humanitarian request for permanent residency status. Her temporary visa was repeatedly extended from time to time, but in 2016, the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Humanitarian Affairs revoked it and offered her only a work permit. This left her in extremely difficult conditions without medical insurance, a child allowance, and other crucial social benefits upon which most Israeli families depend. Devastated, she turned to LACO for help.

We took her case and filed an appeal. The judge who heard her case understood what was at stake and Vorkanesh finally felt she was seen by the system. Given the violence she had suffered, the judge revoked the Population Authority’s decision and ordered them to reconsider the case. Upon review, Vorkanesh's temporary visa was reinstated and this year, we were able to help her receive permanent residency status. This meant we could apply on her behalf for Israeli citizenship, and last week, after eight long years of legal struggle, Vorkanesh finally became a full citizen of the country in which her children were born and have lived their entire lives. The threat of deportation has been removed from the family. Vorkanesh, a brave woman, managed to raise her two children in uncertain conditions and can now finally live without fear, in equality with all other Israelis.

These are just two of dozens of cases of women who suffer domestic violence that our amazing LACO lawyers are helping at an any given time. Each case is a world of its own. I am proud of LACO's work, helping people at extreme risk saving souls daily. This is the Judaism that we believe in, a tradition of compassion and mercy that calls us to extend our hands to those in need.

Have the courage to care and help us to assist women all year round!
 
Sincerely,
Orly Erez-Likhovski