On Tuesday, Member of Knesset Otniel Schneller of the Kadima party demanded that an investigation be launched against Arab MK Dr. Jamal Zahalka of the National Democratic Assembly due to the latter’s involvement in an event that aims to expose the state of Israel’s apartheid style policies.Dr. Zahalka intends to participate in a conference in Montreal entitled ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’, where he will be the week’s keynote speaker.
Israeli Apartheid Week is an annual week-long series of events being held from the 12th until the 17th of February. Events will be held in various venues throughout North America and Europe.
The aim of Israeli Apartheid Week is to raise the international community’s awareness of Israel’s apartheid practices, and how this apartheid affects different aspects of Palestinian life.
In a press release Dr. Zahalka stated that ‘Israel is implementing apartheid policies in Palestine by building the apartheid separation wall, bypass roads for Jews only in the West Bank, restrictions on movement of Palestinians, hundreds of checkpoints, in addition to the siege and daily violation of basic human rights of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.’ He added, “Even Palestinian citizens of Israel are in fact second degree citizens that suffer systematic discrimination in all aspects of their lives.”
Although the week started as a Toronto event in 2005, this year it will also be taking place in Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Oxford, Cambridge, and New York City.
