Australia’s Universities Lie and Censor for Apartheid Israel

 

Australia’s 39 taxpayer-funded universities have endorsed a highly controversial new definition of antisemitism that was drafted by leaders from the Group of Eight (GoE), Australia’s top universities, and is expected to be enforced on all campuses. It is likely that the several private Australian universities will follow suit. This despicable Action threatens the free speech of academics and students that is the core ethos of decent universities. 

The essence of  the definition adopted by Australia’s universities is as follows:

“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.”

This false, censoring and intimidating Action threatens the free speech of academics and students, and impacts negatively on the reputations of all past, present and future staff and students of Australia’s 39 taxpayer-funded universities. Indeed it threatens Australia’s A$40 billion per annum Education Export Industry that is crucial for the funding of Australia’s universities.  (more...)

Australia’s Universities Lie and Censor for Apartheid Israel