Israeli Apartheid Week 2022: What is it and how can you get involved?

Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), which will take place from March 21st to 28th, is an international week of action to spread awareness and muster support for the Palestinian liberation struggle.

The week is an annual event that has happened every year since its inception in Toronto in 2005, and has since expanded to over 50 cities all over the world.

This IAW there are several events which anyone can take part in, including both online international and in-person events in Edinburgh.

A key objective of the week is to highlight the connections between Palestinian liberation and other social movements, such as anti-racist and climate activist movements.

The Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society (EUJPS) will be hosting several events during the week that students can get involved in to promote awareness of the situation in Palestine and its connections to the climate crisis and other wider issues.

There is some debate over criticisms of Israel and concerns about anti-Semitism in anti-Israeli movements. Whilst EUJPS does criticise the state of Israel, it does not stand for anti-Semitism, and all of the events during IAW are being held with the goal of empowering Palestinians.

Here’s a rundown of the events you can get involved in next week:

Monday, March 21st

Resisting Apartheid: A Conversation with Mohammed El Kurd, 6:15 to 8pm 

This is a talk and Q+A with Mohammed El Kurd (a prominent Palestinian writer and activist from Sheikh Jarrah).

Anyone interested should meet at 6:15 pm in front of Appleton. 

Tuesday, March 22nd

Decolonising the Curriculum Talk, 1pm

A talk led by members of EUJPS on decolonising university curriculums at Edinburgh University.

Location: TBD; check out the EUJPS Facebook and Instagram for announcements. 

Film Screening of The Lobby and Q+A with James Kleinfeld, 5:30pm

This will be a group viewing of the documentary The Lobby, and James Kleinfeld was the undercover reporter involved in the production of the documentary.

Anyone interested should meet in front of the Main Library at 5:30 pm. 

Wednesday, March 23rd

#DivestforPalestine Day of Action

This is a national day of action. Check out the EUJPS Facebook and Instagram for more details closer to the time. 

Architecture of Apartheid Talk, 2pm

A talk led by members of EUJPS on the architecture of apartheid.

Location: TBD; check out the EUJPS Facebook and Instagram for announcements. 

Weekly EUJPS Meeting, 5pm in the Teviot Study Room

Anyone wanting to join the society or potentially get involved can come along. 

Thursday, March 24th

Talk with Mazin Qumsiyeh, 1pm

Mazin Qumsiyeh is a Palestinian scientist that will be giving a talk on climate and apartheid.

Location: TBD, check out the EUJPS Facebook and Instagram for announcements. 

Friday, March 25th

 Climate strike, 11am

EUJPS will be joining the climate strike, and anyone is welcome to join our group for this. 

Saturday, March 26th

Justice for Palestine Rally, 1pm

EUJPS will be holding a rally in Bristo Square to close out the week. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cah3bTXoWLM/

Speaking to The Edinburgh Tab, the co-president of EUJPS said: “This year’s Israeli Apartheid Week is an opportunity for our society to really engage with activism, and for us to come together with the international community in demanding change from our institutions, our society at large and from our government.

“IAW is really focused on all of that, so although we work throughout the whole year, it’s really nice to have this opportunity for so many universities across the UK and across the world to be involved in similar direct actions, campaigns, and activism in general.

“We’d really encourage all Edi students to get involved with what we’ve got planned. The week represents a time to raise awareness about what’s going on and to make people understand that there is no way to separate themselves from what is happening in Palestine. We should all care about the Palestinian plight.

“As a community, we need to come together and demand for this change to occur. This is what Israeli Apartheid Week is about for us.”

More information on IAW can be found on the EUJPS Instagram.

Cover picture courtesy of EUJPS

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