University of Melbourne condemns student union motion, labels it ‘anti-Semitic’

After a backlash from prominent Jewish leaders, the University of Melbourne has responded to an anti-Israel motion passed by its student union last week, labelling it ‘anti-Semitic.’

The University of Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

The University of Melbourne has condemned a motion passed by its student union, which pledged support for the anti-Israeli ­Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, labelling it anti-Semitic.

After concerns were raised by Jewish leaders in response to the motion, which condemned Zionism as a “racist colonial ideology” and urged the university to ­endorse an academic boycott, the university released a statement in support of Jewish students.

Stating the University of Melbourne student union “operates as a separate entity to the university”, a spokesman said “this anti-Semitic motion, narrowly passed in a vote by 16 members of the UMSU Students Council, is not the position of the University of Melbourne; nor is it one that is ­endorsed or supported by the university”.

“We are proud of our relationships with the Jewish community in Australia and across the world, and our academic partnerships with Israeli universities and scholars,” the spokesman said.

Australian/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein welcomed the university’s “principled statement on the motion … especially the fact that the university has correctly identified the appalling UMSU motion as anti-Semitic”.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler thanked the university for its “strong leadership on this ­matter”.

“The statement sends an important message to Jewish students at Melbourne University that they are welcome and are free to express their Jewish identity without fear of intimidation,” he said.

Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb welcomed “the support expressed for Jewish students and for academic partnerships with Israeli universities and scholars”.

All three Jewish leaders called on the university to adopt the International Holocaust ­Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.

“Doing so would empower university staff and students to call out anti-Semitic conduct when it occurs and send a strong message of support and inclusion to Jewish students,” Mr Leibler said.

It comes as Sydney University’s student union on Wednesday night ­debated a ­motion encouraging students to attend an anti-Israeli demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark described the motion as divisive and hateful, and said the union had deliberately decided to hold the meeting on Israel’s Independence Day to insult Jewish students.

The Australasian Union of Jewish Students, which represents Jewish students on campus, also welcomed Melbourne University’s decision to condemn the student union motion.

“This ­motion was blatantly anti-Semitic and is not about solidarity with Palestinians, rather about propagating disjointed and misconstrued ­notions on Zionism and the BDS movement,” said AUJS public affairs director Eddy Lichtig.

The Australian sought a ­comment from UMSU about the motion but did not get a response.