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Australian universities adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism isn’t about protecting Jewish people - it’s about suppressing criticism of Israel. This is a direct attack on free speech and academic freedom.
Australian universities adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism isn’t about protecting Jewish people - it’s about suppressing criticism of Israel. This is a direct attack on free speech and academic freedom.
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The IHRA definition conflates antisemitism with anti-Zionism - a POLITICAL ideology. It criminalises legitimate critique of Israel’s policies and silences Palestinians and their allies. This isn’t about fighting hate, it’s about protecting a colonial project.
As Jewish antifascists, we reject this weaponisation of antisemitism. We know what real antisemitism looks like - it’s the far-right violence, the conspiracy theories, the white nationalism. Criticism of a state committing apartheid isn’t it.
The IHRA definition shields Israel from accountability, even as it commits war crimes. And the institutions adopting it are complicit in the repression of students, staff, and activists speaking up for Palestinian liberation.
Let’s be clear: Zionism is not Judaism. The attempt to equate them puts all Jews at risk by making us responsible for the actions of a violent state. This alignment with colonialism and ethno-nationalism fuels antisemitism, not fights it.
When universities prioritise protecting a state over protecting free speech and the safety of their own students, they betray their supposed commitment to academic integrity and human rights.
We stand with those resisting apartheid and occupation. We stand against the weaponisation of antisemitism to silence dissent. And we call on Australian universities to reject the IHRA definition and stand on the side of justice.