Understanding Israeli Apartheid Week

What is Israeli Apartheid Week?

Established in 2005, Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is a globally recognized anti-Israel initiative held annually, usually in March, across numerous cities and campuses. It is organized by the antisemitic Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

IAW programming falsely alleges that Israel is a settler colonial, apartheid state. Staples of IAW include the construction of mock apartheid walls on campuses and the dissemination of antisemitic and anti-Zionist misinformation, often coupled with rhetoric that legitimizes or supports terrorist groups such as Hamas (Gaza) and Hezbollah (Lebanon).

While the intense military phase of the Israel-Hamas War has concluded, IAW programming continues to rely on discredited narratives. Organizers continue to recycle the false, inflammatory allegation of genocide – a claim rejected by credible international bodies during the conflict – as a central theme, aiming to vilify Israel’s efforts against terrorism.

What is apartheid, and why is that not an accurate word to describe Israel?

South Africa’s historical apartheid system was a legal framework of racial segregation and disenfranchisement, where Black South Africans were systematically denied fundamental rights. 

In stark contrast, Israel is a vibrant democracy where all citizens – Jewish, Arab, Druze, Christian, and others – have equal rights under the law. Non-Jewish Israelis serve as judges, diplomats, military officers, and members of parliament, participate fully in academic and cultural life, and enjoy freedoms unparalleled in the region.

How and why is IAW allowed on campus?

The offensive and hateful speech often expressed during IAW events is generally protected by the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of speech and assembly on public university campuses.

However, this protection has limits. Speech that crosses the line into unlawful conduct, targeted harassment, true threats, or incitement to imminent violence is not protected. Additionally, events that exclude participants based on protected identities, such as religion or national origin, may violate campus codes of conduct and/or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

What is genocide, and why was it an inaccurate accusation during the Israel-Hamas War?

Genocide is an internationally recognized crime defined by acts committed with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

The accusation of genocide leveled against Israel during its war against Hamas was a profound distortion of both international law and the factual record. Israel’s military campaign was directed at dismantling the Hamas terrorist infrastructure, not the Palestinian people in Gaza.

This was demonstrated by extensive measures to minimize civilian harm, including advance warnings for evacuations, humanitarian corridors, and facilitating aid, actions fundamentally inconsistent with genocidal intent. Despite the war’s conclusion, IAW activists continue to promote this discredited allegation.