
Director
Adv. Raffoul Rofa
DirectorAdv. Raffoul Rofa holds a Master’s degree in Law (LL.M., 1996) from the University of London, United Kingdom. He was admitted to the Israeli Bar in 2003 and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 2007. Adv. Rofa has been a board member of the World Vision Jerusalem, West Bank Gaza office since 2008 and its chair since 2009. He joined the world vision Board of Directors because he was interested in contributing to the work of an organization which works for the benefit of children and seeks to improve their lives. He has been the director of the Society of St. Yves since 2008.
Legal Department
Adv. Haitham Al-Khateeb
Head of the Legal DepartmentAdv. Haitham Al-Khateeb holds a Bachelor Degree in Law (LL.B.) from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He was admitted to the Israeli Bar Association in 2002 and has worked in several private law practices and human rights organizations ever since. He specialized in human rights law and defending the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories especially in occupied East Jerusalem. Among the most notable cases he worked on was retrieving the corpses of Palestinians which the Israeli government withheld for years. He further worked on cases related to housing issues, structure demolitions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Jerusalem residency and countering Israel’s discriminatory forced displacement policies.
Adv. Ramzi Backleh
Legal AdvisorAdv. Ramzi Backleh holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the Beirut Arab University (1994). He was admitted to the Palestinian Bar Association in 1996 and has worked in his private law practice on compensation cases, land laws, traffic accidents, personal status law and human rights issues. He works as a legal advisor for the Society of St. Yves and the Latin Patriarchate.
Adv. Reem Dandis
AdvocateAdv. Reem Dandis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B.) and a Master’s Degree in Law (LL.M.) from Al-Quds University. She interned in a private legal office specialized in land law as well as planning and construction laws. She was admitted to the Israeli Bar in 2012 and She worked in several legal offices . She currently works for the Society of St. Yves on house demolition cases as well as beneficiary intake.
Adv. Zvi Avni
AdvocateAdvocate Zvi Avni holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B.) and a Master’s Degree in Arabic Literature from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He interned in a legal office specializing in compensations after which he worked for a private law firm and a human rights NGO that provides legal aid for Palestinians. He volunteered in several local human rights NGOs. Zvi is currently in charge of the Cremisan Valley case, a high profile case in which the Society of St. Yves is litigating against building a section of the separation wall near Beit Jala.
Benificiary Intake Department
Janet Rofa
Head of Beneficiary Intake DepartmentMrs. Janet Rofa worked in the National Insurance Institution for 14 years during which she gained experience in the National Insurance Laws and system. Out of the 14 years, she was head of the disability department for 10 years. She took several courses in which she learned and specialized in the national insurance laws. She also worked for 2.5 years in the Jerusalem Municipality in the East Jerusalem Properties department and in the Businesses Licensing Department.
Administrative Department
Ms. Ihab Razzouq
AccountantMs. Nada El-Amarin
Office AssistantMrs. Amareen "Um Darweesh" is the oldest serving employee at St. Yves. She started working with St. Yves in 1993 and has been the primary office assistant in Bethlehem ever since. Mrs. Amareen provides wide administrative support, including various administrative tasks and responsibilities, mainly to the lawyers and beneficiaries of St. Yves. She assists in processing beneficiary files, from the legal consultation phase, until a final decision, follow- ups and documentations. Prior to joining St. Yves, Mrs. Amareen served as an office assistant at Bethlehem University.