Universities Host Controversial Conference on IHRA Definition of Antisemitism
Two prominent universities, the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) and New York University (NYU), are set to host a conference that delves into the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The event, titled Battling the ‘IHRA definition’: Theory and Activism, organized by the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism (ICSZ), aims to explore how the definition supports repressive power and state violence.
Scheduled for October 13-14, the conference will bring together academics and activists who are dedicated to fighting against the IHRA definition. The event’s webpage states that the sessions will examine the political, historical, and cultural factors that enable IHRA campaigns, while also providing theoretical insights and organizing tools for resistance. The focus of the event will be on North American academia, government, and institutions, but it will also explore the international impact of the IHRA definition.
The IHRA definition, drafted and accepted in 2016, defines antisemitism as the creation of a certain perception of Jews that can be expressed as hatred toward them. It encompasses both rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism, targeting individuals, property, Jewish community institutions, religious facilities, and even the state of Israel, suggesting that criticism extending beyond normal discourse could be considered antisemitic.
To attend or sponsor the conference, individuals and organizations are required to confirm their agreement with the ICSZ’s points of unity. These points include the belief that Israel is a settler colonial state akin to the United States and a racial project. In addition, they assert that academic research should not be neutral and argue that studying or criticizing Zionism is not inherently anti-Jewish.
Rabab Abdulhadi, the founding director and senior scholar of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program at San Francisco State University, is one of the members of the planning collective for the conference. Abdulhadi has faced criticism in the past for allegedly making antisemitic comments about Israel and Jews who support Zionism. She has also been accused of inviting individuals associated with terrorist groups to speak on campus.
Both UCSC and NYU have faced scrutiny for incidents of antisemitism in recent years. In 2015, UCSC ranked fifth in the nation for schools with the worst antisemitism problem, despite having a significant Jewish population. In May, UCSC’s chancellor condemned an antisemitic incident involving students who held a birthday party for Adolf Hitler. Similarly, students associated with NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter released a statement in 2022 asserting that Palestinians have the right to resist the occupation using any means necessary, rejecting the demand for nonviolence.
At the time of writing, NYU Law, UCSC, Abdulhadi, and ICSZ have not responded to requests for comment.
This conference and the discussions surrounding the IHRA definition of antisemitism have stirred controversy and drawn attention to the ongoing debates over the boundaries of legitimate criticism of Israel and the broader struggle against antisemitism. The event raises questions about academic freedom, the portrayal of Israel, and the nature of antisemitism in contemporary society. As perspectives clash on these sensitive issues, the impact of the conference and the ongoing conversation it generates remain to be seen.
