New definition of antisemitism implemented at universities
"Substituting the word 'Zionist' for 'Jew' does not eliminate the possibility of speech being antisemitic."
Universities Australia’s leadership agreed to implement a new definition of antisemitism across the nation’s 39 university campuses on Monday.
The definition was developed by the Group of Eight (Go8) – Australia’s largest universities, in consultation with Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal and Monash University Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation’s director David Slucki.
An extract from the definition states: “Antisemitism is discrimination, prejudice, harassment, exclusion, vilification, intimidation or violence that impedes Jews’ ability to participate as equals in educational, political, religious, cultural, economic or social life.
“Criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel’s actions.
“For most, but not all, Jewish Australians, Zionism is a core part of their Jewish identity. Substituting the word ‘Zionist’ for ‘Jew’ does not eliminate the possibility of speech being antisemitic.”
Go8 chief executive Vicki Thomson commented, “We consulted widely over many months and this definition represents our best efforts to achieve the delicate balance between adopting what is ostensibly an Australian version of IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] that can be operationalised in a university setting, while upholding academic freedom and associated obligations.”
Segal said she considered the Universities Australia definition “a positive step”.
“My preference remains that the International Holocaust Remembrance definition be adopted in its entirety.”
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) and the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism (5A) have criticised the Go8 definition and called on universities to adopt IHRA.
5A Director Associate Professor David D. Knoll said it, “makes no sense for Universities Australia to adopt a different, narrower and less workable definition than the one adopted by the Commonwealth Student Ombudsman who will be reviewing universities failures to deal properly with antisemitism under the internationally accepted IHRA definition”.
“We call on university governing bodies to reject the Universities Australia definition and instead adopt the IHRA definition when it comes to local adoption.”
The ECAJ had requested the definition be modified to state “criticism of Israel is antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions about Jews and/or when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel”.
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students has previously expressed a preference for IHRA but welcomed the Go8 definition in order for there to be positive changes for Jewish students on campus.
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