In Palestine, students across the West Bank will mobilize from February 10 â 13 against the Israeli apartheid regime and the economic, social and environmental devastation it has brought to Palestine. In al-Quds University, students are organizing to strengthen the growing movement towards the complete academic boycott of Israel. For the full table of activities, see below.
The aim of Israeli Apartheid Week, first held in 2004 in Canada, is to create a widespread awareness of Israeli apartheid and to bolster support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign in accordance with the demands outlined in the July 2005 Statement: full equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel, an end to the occupation and colonization of the West Bank and Gaza, and the implementation of the right of return for Palestinian refugees pursuant to UN resolution 194. For Palestinian students in the West Bank joining in this year week will offer them an important possibility not only to escalate their resistance but to build ties with youth all over the world.
Israeli Apartheid Week 2008 was officially launched on Sunday, February 3rd in Soweto, South Africa and is taking place in 25 cities from February 3-19 2008. Concurrent events are being held in Palestine, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States organized by a large number of student activists and solidarity groups.
Exiled Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset, Azmi Bishara, addressed his lecture on the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their land to become what remains one of the worldâs largest refugee populations. Bishara stated,
âReconciliation happened in South Africa after apartheid was dismantled, not instead. The message sent to the Palestinians is that you have to make peace and reconciliate. We can reconciliate after racism and occupation is dismantled.â
For more details and the full international schedule, please go to www.apartheidweek.org.
EVENTS IN PALESTINE
Jerusalem: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) as a Tool of Resistance – Why Boycott Israel ?
Where: Moot Court Room, Faculty of Law, Al Quds University, Jerusalem – Abu Dis
Action: Conference with the following speakers:
– Dr. Gabi Baramki (Former consultant to the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and Acting President of Birzeit University from 1974 to 1993)
– Dr. Islah Jad (Assistant Professor of Gender and Development at Bir Zeit University; Founding member of the Womenâs Studies Institute at Bir Zeit University)
When: February 10th, 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Organized by: Al Quds Human Rights Clinic at Al Quds University & Stop the Wall Campaign
Contact details: 02-279-0417 or email: info@aqhrclinic.alquds.edu
Tulkarem: Toxic Apartheid Israel – Students mobilize against Geshuri settlement factory
Where: al-Khadouri college to Geshuri industrial zone
Action: demonstration against the Israeli industrial zone that steals Palestinian land, exploits Palestinian labour, pollutes the land and endangers Palestinian health.
When: February 13
Organized by: Stop the Wall activists, Students Council al-Khadouri College, Students Council Open al-Quds University Tulkarm
Contact details: available with youth@stopthewall.org
Qalqiliya: Apartheid in Palestine â Economic Strangulation of a city
Where: Open al-Quds University
Action: Day of Action
11 am â 1pm: presentation âThe Apartheid Wall since 2002 â 2008â by Suhail Salman (Stop the Wall grassroots coordinator)
1.30 pm â Opening of photo exhibit in the corridors of the university done by Stop the Wall volunteers,
3 pm: Students presenting their research on the economic situation in Qalqiliya after it has been completely isolated by the Apartheid Wall. Following open discussion between Suhail Salman and the students to strategize about student activism in al-Quds Open University
When: February 11
Organized by: Stop the Wall activists, Studentsâ Council Open al-Quds University Qalqiliya
Contact details: available with youth@stopthewall.org
Birzeit:
Where: Birzeit University
Action: Photo Exhibit and rally in al-Manara against the Occupation
When: to be defined
Organized by: Birzeit University Students Council
***image2***