Universities agree on anti-Semitism policy and sanctions

Academics and students who attack Zionism can be sanctioned for anti-Semitism under a common definition approved by 30 Australian universities on Tuesday night to protect Jewish Australians.

A Jewish student at the University of Sydney. Picture: John Feder

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Academics and students who attack Zionism can be sanctioned for anti-Semitism under a common definition approved by 30 Australian universities on Tuesday night to protect Jewish Australians.

The strong and broad definition is based on that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and recommendations of anti-Semitism taskforces at Columbia University, Stanford University, Harvard University, and New York University in the US.

It states that “criticism of the policies and practices of the Israeli government or state is not in and of itself anti-Semitic”.

“However, criticism of Israel can be anti-Semitic 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,” it states.

“It can be anti-Semitic to make assumptions about what Jewish individuals think based only on the fact that they are Jewish.

“All peoples, including Jews, have the right to self-determination.

“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 anti-Semitic.”

Jewish Israel supporters face off against pro-Palestine protesters near Melbourne University in May 2024. Picture: Jason Edwards

Universities have agreed to incorporate the anti-Semitism definition into complaints schemes and disciplinary processes “as soon as practicable”.

“Anti-Semitism 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,” it states.

“It can manifest in a range of ways including negative, dehumanising, or stereotypical narratives about Jews.

“Further, it includes hate speech, epithets, caricatures, stereotypes, tropes, Holocaust denial, and anti-Semitic symbols.

“Targeting Jews based on their Jewish identities alone is discriminatory and anti-Semitic.”

The united action comes after several universities – including Macquarie University and the University of Sydney – had set up high-security rooms for Jewish students, due to a rising tide of attacks and harassment of Jewish Australians.