The fifth annual Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) took place in eight U.S. cities and more than 30 cities around the world from March 1-8, 2009. Events held under the banner of IAW, which began at the University of Toronto in 2005, have regularly featured extreme anti-Israel rhetoric, including attempts to draw comparisons between Israel's treatment of Palestinians and Apartheid South Africa and calls for a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel and Israeli institutions.

In the U.S., the week-long series of events took place mostly on college campuses. Events included rallies held to oppose Israel, displays that featured mock "apartheid walls" and checkpoints, and panel discussions and lectures rife with accusations that Israel discriminates against and segregates Palestinians in a manner akin to South African apartheid.

The events largely served as forums to propagate the notion that Israeli policy is comparable to South African apartheid, and, accordingly, BDS campaigns similar to those waged against the South African government in the 1970s and '80s are a legitimate and necessary response to Israel's alleged discrimination against Palestinians. In light of the fact that several college campuses around the country have seen a revival of efforts to divest from Israel and Israeli institutions, IAW was another vehicle for invigorating divestment initiatives.

Israel's recent military action against Hamas in Gaza led to an increase in IAW events nationwide. Events were held in Atlanta, Berkeley, Boston, Chicago, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia and San Francisco.