An open letter about universities being pressured to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism
JVL Introduction
Blogger Robert A.H.Cohen, well-known to JVL readers, is currently a Jewish part-time MA student at Lancaster university.
He writes candidly and critically to his VC about the demand the Secretary of State for Education is making on universities to adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.
As Cohen explains, it is a poor definition which gives no guidance as to how to evaluate the context which it says needs to be taken into account in evaluating if a view expressed is reasonable, proportionate or defendable.
The essence of Cohen’s argument is summed up when he says: “The Secretary of State is behaving like a bully and using genuine concerns about rising incidents of antisemitism on campus to push a flawed document which will do little to help the situation.”
We have yet to see any reasonable response from proponents of the IHRA definition to arguments of the kind advanced by Cohen and other critics.
This article was originally published by Patheos on Sat 17 Oct 2020. Read the original here.
Dear Vice Chancellor, don’t let Gavin Williamson bully you into adopting IHRA
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Brilliant. I have printed this off as we have a resolution to accept the IHRA coming up on the Council agenda later this month, and I know it will hit the local media. Be good to have some ammunition handy.
The link to the Union of jewish students article is interesting in that it highlights exactly the problem with the definition. It is being used for political purposes; “The best example of this came recently at the University of Warwick. When a lecturer was recorded saying that “the idea that the Labour Party is antisemitic is very much an Israeli lobby kind of idea”. This was called out as antisemitic but dismissed by the university, as an ‘engaging debate’”. That is the best example! And an excellent, sympathetic, nuanced letter by Robert Cohen
Very smart of Robert Cohen to use his own current studentship as a relevant vehicle through which to tackle this head on. Let’s see what lancaster VC reply is!
Robert Cohen’s letter needs to be read widely, showing the balance and understanding required for peace around the world. His arguments fit into different times and places easily showing the hard nosed reality of his point of view.
Congratulations to Robert Cohen; I wish I could have written such a letter regarding the IHRA ‘working definition of antisemitism. The UK’s Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson has a history of coercing those who may disagree with his narrow views, or at least attempting to, and I hope to high heavens that Lancaster’s VC is wise enough to resist this pressure. Congratulations, mazeltov Robert.
Gavin Williamson is a pretty limited MP let alone education minister in this Gov of no talents he stands out. So not much hope there.