A Call to the OGP Community: Don’t Look Away
Disclaimer — I am one of the few people involved in two OGP processes in the UK and Israel. This blog is written in my Israeli capacity, as a board member of the Freedom of Information Movement. It does not represent the views of the UK Open Government Network. I would like to thank my UK colleagues for their support and sensitivity over the past two years. This blog is not about them.
It has now been two years since 7 October 2023. I have marked two Days of Atonement since then — long enough to reflect on grief, guilt and shame. No more. I am done repenting, done apologising. Now, dear governments and civil society members, it is your turn to reflect on whether these OGP processes are truly working.
Israeli civil society is stretched to its limits. It has stepped in where government services collapsed after the massacre of 7 October and the war that followed. It provides psychological support to survivors, financial assistance to families whose homes have been destroyed by missiles, and helps children learn how to cope with trauma. Beyond these basic Maslowian needs, Israeli civil society has been on the streets every week for the past two years. We have urged our government to reach a deal to release the hostages, and as the war dragged on and began to look like a political survival strategy for the Prime Minister, even more people joined the protests, calling for an end to the war.
Israel civil society appeals to the Supreme Court to stop abuses of power and threats to justice by the government on numerous fronts. Civil society submits Freedom of Information requests to hold the government accountable and expose corruption. We, civil society, stand alongside our Palestinian and Arab Israeli neighbours to fight injustice.
At the upcoming OGP Summit, Israeli civil society will not be there. Not only because the summit was scheduled on a Jewish holiday — as if to exclude us from the outset — but because we have run out of resources. Dare I say it, perhaps also because the OGP community simply doesn’t care.
Let’s be honest — it’s easier this way. One less uncomfortable conversation to have. No one will have to confront the issues of Gaza, famine, antisemitism, or diplomatic sensitivities. But can we truly advance open government if we avoid the difficult questions? We are ready to ask them. Are you ready to listen?
Throughout this entire war, we, Israeli civil society, have had just one call with the civil society steering committee. I did not feel that OGP offered us much. We were asked what we needed — placing the burden on us to respond, even as we were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of our work. Our country coordinator has remained in touch, but even he has few tools to support us.
How can you help?
- We need financial support — we cannot continue fighting for open government in Israel, especially in times as dark as these.
- We need mentorship — people who can listen, advise, and remind us that we are not working in a void.
- We need clear protocols — can a government at war remain a member of OGP? What do prolonged conflicts mean for the principles of open government?
Leonard Cohen wrote in his song Anthem: “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
This belief is what keeps Israeli civil society going. Hopefully, this war will end soon, and we, Israelis, will move towards elections. Hopefully, we can start building a better future now. We will need to face some hard truths and ask tough questions.
Is the OGP community prepared to confront difficult questions, such as why it wasn’t there when Israeli civil society needed support?
