False Accusations at University of British Columbia Based on Pernicious Definition of Anti-Semitism
A long-standing tactic of the Zionists to
undermine and criminalize support for the
Palestinian people is to conflate opposition to
Zionism -- the chauvinist political ideology and
its aim of genocide of the Palestinian people --
with anti-Semitism, a prejudice against people of
Jewish background.
Recently, this tactic has taken the form of an
international campaign for governments to adopt a
pernicious definition of anti-Semitism, known as
the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
(IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.
A recent case at the University of British
Columbia illustrates how the IHRA definition of
anti-Semitism is being used to block opposition to
Zionism and its genocidal project against the
Palestinian people. Activists with Independent
Jewish Voices (IJV), writing in The Talon,
a student newspaper at the University of British
Columbia, reported this February on the outcome of
accusations of anti-Semitism made against
university members in 2018.[1] They wrote:
"In 2018, six members of the UBC community were
the subjects of an investigation based on
allegations that they had engaged in antisemitic
behaviour after they declared their opposition to
holding the Geography Department's year-end party
at Hillel UBC."
In the discussion within the Geography Department,
it was decided to change the venue. As the IJV
activists point out:
"There was never any evidence that either these
comments or the Geography Students Association
decision to change venues had been motivated by
hatred of Jews, which is the standard definition
of anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, the local chapter
of the pro-Israel group known as the Centre for
Israel and Jewish Advocacy (CIJA) waded into the
matter, responding to the decision to change the
party venue by setting up a special website and
launching a letter writing campaign targeting the
UBC administration to take action against what
they alleged to be a blatant instance of
anti-Semitism at the University. It is no
coincidence that CIJA is promoting a 'new'
definition of anti-Semitism which targets
activists who criticize or organize against
Israel's treatment of the Palestinians."
Those accused were eventually vindicated after a
six-month investigation, although the IJV
activists note that "Although the 52-page report
was completed in October 2018, UBC officials have
refused to publicly acknowledge the fact that the
case was dismissed. In addition, they have not
released the investigator's findings."
The IJV activists point out that "Unfortunately,
the situation that arose at UBC is far from
unique. Internationally, pro-Israel campaigners
are lobbying national, provincial and municipal
governments as well as universities, school boards
and police departments, to adopt CIJA's 'new'
definition of anti-Semitism. Known as the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
(IHRA) definition, it includes a list of 11
examples of anti-Semitism. Seven of these relate
to Israel and/or Zionism. The campaigners hope
that the IHRA definition will focus the
conversation on instances mislabelled as
anti-Semitism in order to discourage criticism of
Israel's egregious behaviour."[2]
 The IJV
activists note that: "Regrettably, Canada's
Liberal government chose to include the IHRA
definition in its anti-racism strategy adopted
this past year. But when the IHRA definition was
brought before Vancouver's city council in July
2019, the council referred the matter to the
city's Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Committee,
asking the committee to make recommendations on
how to oppose all forms of racism, including
anti-Semitism. Recently, the Calgary City Council
was asked to simultaneously recognize January 27
as Holocaust Remembrance Day and adopt the IHRA
definition, but the IHRA definition was deleted
when the final version of the resolution was
passed. [...] And most recently, when the IHRA
definition was brought to the Montreal City
Council, it generated sufficient opposition that
demands were made to give the matter further
study. Instead, the motion's sponsor withdrew it
altogether."
Canadians in the main have always stood by the
heroic Palestinian people and their fight for
their right to be and to return to their homeland.
The examples at UBC and elsewhere of the failed
attempts to impose the pernicious IHRA definition
of anti-Semitism show that such chauvinism is
against what ordinary Canadians stand for.
Conversely, the federal Liberal government's
adoption of the IHRA definition highlights the
ruling circles' support for Zionism, a feature of
its support for U.S. imperialism, and that it does
not represent the stand of Canadians for peace and
justice internationally. It shows need for working
people in Canada to continue to stand with the
Palestinian people and oppose attempts at all
levels to criminalize support for their just
cause.
Notes
1. "Academic Freedom at UBC
Threatened by False Allegations of Anti-Semitism,"
Paul Tetrault and Sid Shniad, The Talon,
February 12, 2020.
2. To see the IHRA's
"Working Definition of Antisemitism" on its
website, click
here.
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 10 - March 28, 2020
Article Link:
False Accusations at University of British Columbia Based on Pernicious Definition of Anti-Semitism
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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