Page 23 - shomrim-annual-2024

Crossing Borders for Parenthood:
The Rise of Fertility Treatments

in the West Bank

Fadi Amun
S homrim uncovers a growing phenomenon:
Arab Israeli citizens traveling to Nablus for
fertility treatments in Palestinian Authority clin-
ics. Drawn by looser regulations, many seek pro-
Illustration: Shutterstock cedures not permitted under Israel’s strict medical
Sexual Abuse in the Ultra- oversight, including gender selection.

Orthodox Community: A Culture However, the investigation reveals alarming
consequences—lax medical oversight in the
of Silence and Vulnerability Palestinian healthcare system has led to high-risk

pregnancies that would have been deemed unsafe
Lir Spiriton in Israel, posing serious dangers to both mothers
I n a deeply sensitive investigation, Shomrim ex- and unborn children. This cross-border fertility

poses how the lack of sexual education, con- trend raises ethical, medical, and regulatory
servative norms, and a culture of suppression in concerns, highlighting the urgent need for better
the ultra-Orthodox community leave its members awareness and oversight.
particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and
abuse. Without the necessary knowledge or tools
to recognize, prevent, or address such violations,
survivors are often left to suffer in silence, exac-
erbating both the scale and severity of the abuse.
This investigation sheds light on the urgent need
for systemic change to break the cycle of silence
and protect the most vulnerable.

Social media advertisement for fertility clinic in Nablus. “Boy or Girl"

Shomrim | 23 | Annual Report