Summary:
Today, Australia’s 39 universities endorsed a dangerous and politicised definition of antisemitism which threatens academic freedom, will have a chilling effect on legitimate criticism of Israel, and risks institutionalising anti-Palestinian racism. They did so without meaningful consultation with Palestinian groups or diverse Jewish groups who are critical of Israel.
The Jewish Council of Australia strongly opposes the antisemitism definition developed by the Group of Eight (Go8) universities and adopted by Universities Australia. By categorising Palestinian political expression as inherently antisemitic, it will be unworkable and unenforceable, and stifle critical political debate, which is at the heart of any democratic society.
The definition dangerously conflates Jewish identities with support for the state of Israel and the political ideology of Zionism.
I was going to include some key dot points, but this statement is succinct enough that you should just read it, or at least skim it.
I’m glad that’s the council’s stance. I remember when universities pretended to have some respect.
They’ve been fully absorbed by the hydra of capitalism and now solely act in the interests of money. Wealthy, powerful, oligarchs insisted they adopt it, so they did. It’s as simple as that.
