International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2021

On this day in 1960, the Apartheid Police in South Africa shot and killed dozens of black Africans on racial grounds. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated annually on the day that police in Sharpville, South Africa shot and killed 69 people who were participating in a peaceful demonstration against "traffic laws" imposed by the apartheid regime in 1960.

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The Mossawa Center calls on all human rights activists to confront all forms of racism and discrimination in Israel and around the world.

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On this day, we affirm the importance of continuing the struggle against discrimination in Israel by challenging and resisting dozens of ordinary and basic laws, budget discrimination, occupation, police violence and racial incitement by politicians such as Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar ben-Gvir, and others.

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Forms of racism and discrimination practiced in Israel:
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• Discriminatory legislation against Palestinian Arab citizens and the grants of exclusive, collective rights to Jewish citizens. Ordinary laws and basic, constitutional laws grant collective rights to Jews and exclude Arabs such as the Nationality Law, the Immigration Law, the Citizenship Law, and the Elections Law.
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• Discrimination in allocating state resources.
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• Racial profiling in public places, services, transportation, and airports.
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• Discrimination in employment, housing, home demolitions, and planning prohibitions.
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• Arab civilians were killed or injured by security forces due to racial prejudice.
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• Civilian assaults on Arab citizens on the basis of racism.
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• Racism towards African migrants and refugees.
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• Racial incitement against Palestinian Arabs and other ethnic groups.
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• De-legitimizing the political leadership of Palestinian Arab citizens.