About › Gisha Staff

Gisha Staff

  • Ms. Sari Bashi
    Executive Director

    • Received a Bachelor of Arts degree (summa cum laude) from Yale University and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. Sari clerked on the Israeli Supreme Court for Justice Edmond Levi. She is a licensed attorney in Israel and New York and was awarded a year-long Robert L. Bernstein Human Rights fellowship from Yale Law School. Prior to studying law, Sari worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press in Jerusalem and conducted research on ethnic identity among Ethiopian immigrants to Israel as part of a Fulbright Scholarship. She was previously awarded a two-year fellowship for her work at Gisha by the Echoing Green Foundation in the United States.

  • Dr. Nomi Heger
    Director of the Legal Department

    • Completed her LL.B. (magna cum laude) at the Academic Center of Law and Business in Ramat Gan, with a focus on human rights. Received her M.A and PhD in Middle Eastern studies from Princeton University, and B.A (summa cum laude) in Arabic language and literature and English linguistics from Bar-Ilan University. Nomi has been lecturing since 1995 in the department of art history at Tel Aviv University, and previously clerked and worked as a lawyer at the office of Laski, Ben-Natan.

  • Mr. Shadi Butthish
    Intake Coordinator

    • Has worked as a journalist, TV personality, producer and director since 1996. Shadi spent six years producing and editing a range of Israeli educational television programs. From 2007 to 2009, he worked as a reporter and researcher for several foreign TV networks, covering Palestinian society and the regional conflict. He also directed and produced several film presentations for institutions of higher education and other organizations.

  • Omnia Zoubi
    Intake Coordinator

    • Omnia holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and Middle Eastern and African history from Tel Aviv University. Since graduating, she has completed practical training at a mental health center and worked as a therapeutic mentor for at-risk youth in Jaffa. Whilst at university, she participated in numerous student activities, volunteered in social projects targeting young people, and served as a personal tutor and student mentor.

  • Tal Messer
    Legal intern

    • Received a dual degree in law and communications from the College of Management Academic Studies. Previously edited and presented a weekly radio program on “Kol HaCampus” 106FM. Is also a television critic for the culture and leisure online magazine “City Mouse”.

  • Mr. Yoni Eshpar
    Director of the Public Department

    • Holds a B.A. in international relations, politics and development studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London, and is currently completing an M.A. in the history and philosophy of science and ideas at Tel Aviv University. Yoni has an extensive background in developing Internet projects for leading Israeli and international companies. He has worked for the London-based company Exclusive Analysis as a political risk analyst for the Middle East, and wrote for Haaretz weekend magazine and other publications.

  • Ms. Moran Avital
    Media and Advocacy Coordinator

    • Received an M.A. in political science (Magna cum laude) from Tel Aviv University and B.A. in behavioral sciences from Ben Gurion University. Worked as coordinator of research and projects in the Participatory Social Marketing program of the Department of Communications at Tel Aviv University. Between the years 2000 – 2003, Moran worked as a producer, editor, and anchor of a daily current events program at "Radio Darom" (South). During her studies, she volunteered at the Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Tel Aviv and at MachsomWatch.

  • Amir Rotem
    Spokesperson

    • A veteran of more than 20 years in the Israeli press, Amir has worked as both a writer and editor, including serving as editor-in-chief of Tel Aviv Magazine from the Yediot Tikshoret group, deputy editor of the weekly Ha’Ir (Schocken Group) and managing editor of supplements in Maariv. He also edited television programs and various feature segments, as well as books and scripts. In the last few years, Amir founded and edited the literary quarterly Masmerim.

  • Itamar Sha'altiel
    New Media Coordinator

    •  Holds a B.A. (with honors) in literature from Tel Aviv University and is currently completing an M.A. in literature. He has worked as a journalist and editor in both online and printed publications for a number of years. In his spare time, he is involved in cyber activism.

  • Ms. Iman Jabbour
    Research Director

    • Completed her B.A. in communications and political science at Haifa University. Prior to joining Gisha, Iman worked for years in the local press in both Arabic and Hebrew, and in the written and broadcast media. In the past, she also served as communication coordinator for Kayan – an Arab feminist organization. Iman has experience in media work for foreign channels and as a reporter in satellite Arab stations, as well as many years of experience in conducting research for local and foreign press.

  • Aya Zinatey
    Information Coordinator

    • Received her B.A. in communications from the Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yizreel. A feminist and social activist, active in the Forum of Palestinian Feminists of Lod and Ramle, Aya also completed training at the Rape Crisis Center of the organization Women Against Violence and has volunteered there for over two years. In addition, she received training in group facilitation on the subject of sexuality at the Arab Forum for Sexuality, Education and Health.

  • Mr. Mohammed Yousif Azaiza
    Gaza Field Coordinator

    • Completed his studies in occupational therapy at Bethlehem University. Prior to joining Gisha, Mohammed worked for the Palestine Red Crescent Society's ambulance services, as coordinator for the disaster management unit. He also worked with the United Nations Development Programme as Psychosocial Program Coordinator and with Mercy Corps as Emergency Program for Psychosocial Program for Children Coordinator

  • Ms. Tania Hary
    Director of International Relations

    • Received her B.A. (honors) in modern literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz and an M.A. in international affairs, with a focus on socioeconomic development, from The New School in New York. Tania has worked on fundraising and advocacy initiatives for not-for-profit organizations promoting human rights in Iran (Mission for the Establishment of Human Rights in Iran), children's rights in Argentina (Fundación SES and ph15), and the rights of refugees (International Rescue Committee). She has also collaborated with the International Center for Transitional Justice in New York.

  • Ms. Leora Garton
    Development Coordinator

    • Received a B.A. in history from the University of Durham in the U.K. She went on to complete an M.A. in Middle Eastern history at Tel Aviv University. Prior to joining Gisha, Leora worked for the Delegation of the European Union to Israel. In Brussels, Leora worked within the E.U. institutions to promote and secure E.U. support for regional Arab-Israeli cooperation projects. Leora has also spent time volunteering as an English teacher in Tanzania.

  • Mr. David Alon
    Operations and Finance Director

    • Received his M.A. in political science from Bar Ilan University, where he specialized in comparative politics with an emphasis on theoretical approaches as they relate to new leftist political parties in Israel. Previously, David was a news editor on the IOL network for Haaretz. He also worked at the Steimatzky bookstore chain, where he managed projects for its computer information system. Recently, David worked for the City of Holon, starting as a manager for strategic planning and external relations, and afterwards as a manager for Internet projects and related information systems on behalf of Hachevra LeOtomatzia.

  • Ms. Moria Friedman Sharir
    Administrative Assistant

    • Graduated with a B.A. in applied anthropology and gender from the Emek Izrael Academic College. For two years, Moria worked as a lecturer for Amnesty Israel on the issue of human rights, among students and adults. She also volunteered with Mesila, registering young refugees from Africa in Tel Aviv and helping them reach educational opportunities. She was active with the organization Machsom Watch for three years. Currently, she volunteers with the organization "Hoshen" (education and change), which works on behalf of the LGBT community.