Articles

Canadian Politics, Economy and Foreign Policy, Education, Middle East

High Schools Against Israeli Apartheid

Natalie Shalabi | September 6th 2008 | 8

In July 2005, 171 Palestinian civil-society organizations issued a call to the “international civil society organizations, and people of conscience all over the world, to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel, similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era.” This call came after 57 years of ethnic cleansing, 38 years of military occupation and one year after the International Court of Justice issued its advisory opinion declaring Israel’s apartheid wall to be illegal under international law.

The Palestinians issued this call for boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) following the failure of the UN and the international community to provide protection and solutions to the Palestinians. And responses were not late in coming. Unions throughout the world issued decisions to adopt the BDS campaign and to work actively on raising awareness about human-rights violations and war crimes committed by Israel. It was in this spirit and environment that High Schools Against Israeli Apartheid, or HAIA, was created.

Taking Stock of the Problem

HAIA was founded in a Toronto alternative high school early in the winter of 2007, when a small group of concerned students got together to take action against Israeli apartheid. From the beginning, HAIA’s goal was to educate peers about Israel’s true nature by exposing the misconceptions. When the state of Israel was created in 1948, three quarters of the indigenous population of Palestine was expelled and more than five hundred villages were destroyed, creating one of the world’s biggest refugee situations. Today there are around seven million Palestinian refugees — the world’s largest refugee population. To this day, refugees are forbidden to return to their homes — a violation of international law and a breach of UN Resolution 194.

Canada has a long history supporting Israel. Canada was the first government to cut aid to the Palestinians after Hamas won the Palestinian elections. As well, Canada blindly supported Israel’s aggression against Lebanon and ignored the war crimes Israel committed during the war, which led to the deaths of more than 1,100 innocent people. This year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper took part in celebrating Israel’s sixtieth anniversary, reiterating his support for Israel and totally ignoring the fact that the creation of Israel was accompanied by large-scale ethnic cleansing, the effects of which people are still suffering from today.

“The Student School” is a small high school with 185 students and eight staff. The school is unique in the way it operates. In addition to academic issues, the school focuses on raising students’ awareness about social injustice. Students are encouraged to participate in decision-making processes that happen in student council meetings. Every other week, the entire school meets for council during one 75-minute-long period. Here, students can make announcements, move motions and form committees. All motions have to be voted on. When it comes to voting, teachers and students both have an equal vote.

High School Students Take Action

It was at such a regular council meeting that one student brought forth a motion to start a committee in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Except for a few abstentions, the motion, which included recognition of Israel as an apartheid state, passed unanimously. In subsequent council meetings, during which members of HAIA would give updates about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, a motion was passed to invite members of the Coalition against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) to give a presentation. Following a powerful, informative presentation, a motion was passed to start a subcommittee of CAIA. As the group grew in popularity, so did the movement.

In the fall of 2007 HAIA picked up momentum. The entire school watched the educational documentary Occupation 101. After the screening, a debate took place. As a part of its outreach campaign to educate peers, HAIA received a designated wall in the school and an information desk. HAIA also teamed up with the mural committee to start banner productions for protests. During the fourth annual Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) 2008, HAIA held its founding conference, which was attended by forty high-school students from seven different high schools across Toronto. To support Palestinian workers and farmers, the school began selling traditional scarves (keffiyeh) and fair-trade Palestinian olive oil.

Organizing Toronto Schools

Members of HAIA have been invited to other high schools to discuss Israeli Apartheid. The group has held fundraisers to support the people of Gaza, who live under siege. In May, 2008, as part of the commemorative events to mark sixty years of “Nakhba” (catastrophe), HAIA united with SAIA (Students Against Israeli Apartheid) to hold a youth day of action.

The school, at HAIA’s urging, joined other BDS campaigns in the city. For example, the council voted to boycott Chapters Indigo bookstores because of the financial support that their majority shareholders, Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman, give to the Heseg Foundation for Lone Soldiers.

HAIA is now working on expanding the movement to other schools, and is in the course of formulating strategies and action plans to increase involvement of Canadian youth in the struggle against apartheid in Palestine, as well as in social-justice issues and international solidarity in general. HAIA’s goal is to mobilize the youth and get them involved in struggles for just causes, like the issue of Palestine and the struggle of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. To learn more about HAIA and to get involved, please e-mail us at: haia [at] caiaweb.org.

8 comments

• Those HAIA people are awersome. It is good to see that the youth is involved.

  #1. Posted by George on September 5th 2008 at 11:39am

• This is a proud day, for it is beautiful to see the youth so heavily involved with activism. Natalie, you are an amazing woman and I am so pleased to see how brave you are to sick up for the Palestinians when it seems no one else will. VIVA VIVA INTIFADA. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE

  #2. Posted by Jasmine on September 16th 2008 at 7:57pm

• If only conditions of apartheid did apply to Palestinian citizens of Israel who have access to educational and social services without parallel in the Arab world, along with the freedom to wander into West Jerusalem and kill Jewish citizens of the country that offers them so much.

  I’d like the names of school board members who are behind this curriculum travesty. I’d say that this program qualifies as child abuse, using children for political purposes.

  #3. Posted by Blue on September 18th 2008 at 10:03am

• I think that is one of the most inspirational articles ive read recently. Natalie is an example for us all, and her obvious intelligence and drive at such a young age are quite impressive.

  #4. Posted by louisa on September 22nd 2008 at 4:28am

• This is in response to the comment of “Blue”.
  How is this abuse when students take interest in what’s happening around the world?
  I admire these studenst for taking a stand.
  what’s happening in Gaza is “Apartheid”
  The mainstrean media show only one side and are very biaised.
  I have personally seen slides taken by a Canadian Computer Science professor from Athabasca university here in edmonton, Alberta few years ago, on his trip to Gaza, he was able to hide the pictures he’s taken in Gaza from customs and bring them back to Canada.
  I was shocked by what I saw. Palestinians are treated worse than second class citizens. How can those who denounce the Holocauste and say “Never Again” watch what’s happenin to Palestininas and not take a stand against it.
  I encourage readers to take time to get informed about the situation in Gaza and the history of the occupation.

  Naima from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

  #5. Posted by Naima on October 12th 2008 at 3:59pm

• Pity the worst treatment Palistinian have recieved comes from the other arab tribes such as Jordan and egypt where 80% of the palistinian teritory is located. Jews are not the aggressors here and unfortunatly I being a student school meber from many years back have to wonder how such a one sided opinion on such a complex issue is being taught at the school level.

  I am much more concerned about the 20 000 africans that are currently being killed every month in DARFUR. (muslim ethnic clensing of blacks within own tribal lands) yes in 1 month more blacks are being killed then the grand total af aRabs killed by Jews ever.

  This School should go after the big fish(Darfour) as well as try to stop the constant stonein and killing of wommen in these arab countries over “honor”. The sad part is that this girl would not have the right to say anything as they are considered propery in the islamic culture. Maybe she should live in that culture for a while. Hopefully she won’t get raped cause then they would have to kill her over honour.

  Lets not lose sight of reality here. Live in Isreal for 1 year then with an Arab family then live in Arab country with a jewish family..opps no jews in any of these Arab countries.

  Education involves learning both sides of a conflict an understanding where opertunities exist to bring peace. not to further spead lies and propoganda started by people that wish to exterminate the entire Jewish race.

  1 billion plus arabs in a reqion that is bigger than North america not leaving jews alone on a piece of land the size of toronto. Who is not seaking peace the 10 million Jews or the 1 billion Arabs?

  #6. Posted by mike on February 18th 2009 at 8:41am

• History of Occupation

  
  land that is has been jewish for 3000 plus years taken over by british after Ottoman empire is squashed.
  an small area of land that is 40 -60 percent Jewish prior to WW2 is given back to Jews as they were almost exterminated from the planet.
  800 000 home were given up by Jews in the other ARab States in Exchange for 800 000 homes in Isreal
  UN Creates isreal and no one is asked to leave
  Entire arab nation tells all arabs to leave so that it may destry all jews. They are told they can come back once the arabs win.
  Arabs lost bigtime and no one wants to return as it is unholy now for muslums.
  Other arab states do not give Palistinians the aggreed upon land to become citizens in.
  Arabs that did not flee the oncoming Arab invasion are still living in Isreal as full citizens to this day. They did not forfit thier home by fleeing the oncoming Arab invasion.

  
  it just is more of the same from 1945 till now.
  Remember about 95% of the Jewish race was wiped out by all contries not just Hitler.

  The truht must be that arabs hate palistinians as much as Jews and want to punish both. Otherwise wwhy not just give Palistinians citezinship in arab states just like Isreal has been giving refuge to all jews where they are prosecuted around the world.

  Look these facts up before condeming the Jew as has been customary for a millenia now.

  #7. Posted by mike on February 18th 2009 at 6:03pm

• Israel does not occupy Gaza,and does not practice apartheid.
  What do you say about Hamas’ treatment of the people in Gaza?
  I’m disgusted that high school students are being targeted by this propaganda group.

  #8. Posted by Leslie on February 20th 2009 at 2:42am

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