The Sydney University staff resisting controversial antisemitism rules
University of Sydney academics will hold a meeting this week attempting to thwart the adoption of a definition of antisemitism that aims to protect Jewish and Israeli students on campus which some staff say unreasonably constricts criticism of Israel.
It comes a week after a student meeting to discuss the definition ended in the audience turning their backs on a Jewish speaker while another student effectively called for Israel to cease to exist.
The University of Sydney has been the centre of student protests against Israel since the October 7 attacks – playing host to a sprawling pro-Palestinian encampment of university students, activists as well as long-time supporters of Hizb ut-Tahrir – an organisation banned in Germany and Turkey and labelled a terrorist group in the United Kingdom.
After pressure to act on antisemitism, the Sydney University spent $441,789 on an external review, which proposed new civility rules which asked students to explain exactly what they meant when using contentious phrases.
Additionally, it adopted the Universities Australia definition of antisemitism, along with more than 30 other institutions, which states criticism of Israel is not in itself antisemitic. 'However, 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.'
An email invitation about the meeting on Thursday held by Staff for Palestine says: 'This definition, which has been imposed on the university community unilaterally, treats criticism of Israel and of Zionism as likely to be antisemitic.'
'The definition constitutes a serious obstacle to staff and students' intellectual freedom, and to our ability to campaign for an end to the genocide in Gaza, for the academic boycott of Israeli institutions, and for justice for everyone in the Middle East regardless of their faith, background or ethnicity.
'Our position is that no one kind of racism should be treated as more serious than others, including by being the object of standalone definitions.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Greta Thunberg arrives in France following humiliating deportation after failed Gaza trip
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has landed in Paris, France, following her humiliating deportation from Israel. Thunberg and 11 other activists attempted to break the siege in Gaza and deliver aid via the Madleen yacht. The ship was intercepted by the Israeli navy, with all passengers on board being detained and later returned home. Thunberg's final humiliation from her deportation saw her being flown back home, as the Swedish activist hasn't flown on a plane since 2015. After she arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport, Thunberg spoke to reporters about her deportation and her failure to deliver aid to Gaza.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Two-state solution in the Middle East the ‘only viable path to peace and security': Penny Wong
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has maintained Australia's position on a two-state solution in the Middle East amid Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. 'We maintain our position that we think that two states, which is not supported by the Netanyahu government, still remains the only viable path to peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians,' she said during a media conference on Wednesday. This comes after Australia joined four other nations – Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom – in sanctioning two far-right Israeli ministers. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich face travel bans and will have their assets frozen after being accused of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
West Bank violence: Australia bans 2 Israeli ministers
Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. "(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said. "Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. "These actions are not acceptable." Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government. Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries. The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza". "The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said. "Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world." Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight. The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message. "These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said. with Reuters Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. "(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said. "Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. "These actions are not acceptable." Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government. Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries. The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza". "The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said. "Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world." Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight. The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message. "These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said. with Reuters Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. "(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said. "Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. "These actions are not acceptable." Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government. Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries. The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza". "The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said. "Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world." Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight. The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message. "These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said. with Reuters Australia has issued travel bans and financial sanctions against two high-ranking Israeli government ministers after accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts representing the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. "(National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister) Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the joint statement said. "Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. "These actions are not acceptable." Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government. Senator Wong said Australia "will continue to work with the Israeli government and a range of partners" to help establish peace in the region. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions "outrageous" and said his government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond to the "unacceptable decision" made by the five countries. The sanctions relate to the West Bank but the joint statement on Wednesday morning also said "this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza". "The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas," the joint statement said. "Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world." Australia's sanctions against the ministers took effect just after midnight. The Australian Centre for International Justice said the decision by five countries was a significant step and would send a clear message. "These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians," the centre's Lara Khider said. with Reuters
