A coalition of 24 Israeli colleges announced plans to adopt an internationally recognized definition of antisemitism, following a major academic conference focused on combating discrimination in higher education.
The announcement came during a conference last week focused on implementing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism across Israeli academia. Currently, Ben-Gurion University stands as the only Israeli university to have adopted the definition, while more than 1,260 institutions worldwide have already embraced it.
The IHRA definition recognizes antisemitism as a complex form of prejudice that manifests through both rhetoric and action. It encompasses discriminatory behavior directed not only at Jewish individuals, but also at their property, institutions, and religious facilities. The definition acknowledges that antisemitism can take various forms, from harmful stereotypes and hate speech to physical attacks on synagogues and community centers. Notably, it also identifies denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination – such as claiming that the existence of Israel is inherently racist – as a form of antisemitism.
"Academia should be a beacon of enlightenment," said Raheli Baratz, director of the Department for Combating Antisemitism at the World Zionist Organization, stressing that academic boycotts of Israeli institutions and researchers "betray the basic principles of scientific research and academic freedom."
The conference, organized by the National Student Association, CAMERA on Campus, and the World Zionist Organization, comes at a crucial time as Israel prepares to assume the presidency of the IHRA. Ruth Cohen Dar, director of the Department for Combating Antisemitism at the Foreign Ministry, stressed that while antisemitism is more prevalent outside Israel, the country's upcoming IHRA presidency makes the definition's adoption particularly significant.
The move follows increased concerns about Jew-hatred on university campuses globally. Tom Yohay, manager of CAMERA on Campus Israel, noted, "Tens of thousands of students served in the reserves for hundreds of days and risked their lives in the past year so that we can live here safely. We treat universities and faculty with respect, but we also expect these institutions to show zero tolerance for manifestations of antisemitism when they occur within them.
"Just as university presidents in Israel have sent letters to their counterparts in the US expressing concern about the rise in antisemitism on campuses, we too need to set an example when these incidents occur by a professor, student groups, or individual students."
