Union passes anti-Israel resolution
The National Tertiary Education Union has passed two resolutions, one rejecting the IHRA definition of antisemitism and the other calling its 27,000 members t0 boycott visits to Israel hosted by “pro-Israel organisations”.
NETU members
The resolution stated
The NTEU will:
- Seek to strengthen ties with Palestinian unions, including the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees.
- Prohibit elected officials or staff of the NTEU from accepting expenses-paid tours to Israel that are sponsored by the Israeli state or pro-Israel lobby
organisations - Oppose the adoption of policies that prohibit criticism of Israel by any Australian academic institution, including the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
- Support the right of NTEU members to engage in boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) actions that seek to end the occupation of Palestine
- Contribute $2,000 to the organisation of the next Black-Palestinian Solidarity Conference, to be held in late 2023.
- Call upon members to participate in active solidarity with Palestinians.
Members of the NTEU are employed by tertiarty institutions, including unviersities.
The. co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Peter Wertheim said: “The NTEU resolution is a disgrace. The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, including its listed examples, has received bipartisan endorsement from both the Federal Coalition and Labor, and from the Federal, NSW and Victorian governments. Virtually all of the major Jewish organisations in Australia and throughout the world have formally endorsed the IHRA Working Definition. Even the UK Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, after an intense debate, endorsed the IHRA Working Definition in its entirety, including all the examples.
Yet, without any consultation with us, the NTEU national council seems to think that it knows better than the Jewish community what does and does not constitute antisemitism. We doubt that the NTEU would have treated any other group that has been the long-standing target of intractable prejudice and hatred with such outrageous condescension.
The resolution’s reference to “pro-Israel lobby organisations” is a sneering dismissal of every major Jewish community organisation in the country, simply for supporting Israel’s right to exist in peace and security. This part of the resolution is effectively saying that the heartland of the Australian Jewish community, which is overwhelmingly “pro-Israel”, should be kept at a distance by the NTEU.
Whilst the resolution rejected a blanket endorsement of BDS by the Union, the resolution does nevertheless legitimise BDS. Last year as Federal ALP leader, Anthony Albanese said that he regards the BDS campaign “as one that is based upon a racial targeting of a group, in this case Israel”. Yet the NTEU National Council has now formally spoken of BDS in positive terms.
The NTEU may not realise it, but it has now positioned itself as even more extreme than Corbyn Labour. I feel sorry and concerned for the NTEU’s Jewish members who are committed to what the Union is supposed to stand for, but now face a real moral dilemma.
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) condemned the extremist and antisemitic resolution passed by the National Tertiary Education Union. (NTEU).
President, Dr David Adler said, “Last week the NTEU passed a repugnant motion that is an attack on every Jew in Australia. Those promoting such hatred should have no place in Australian universities. Along with falsely accusing the only Jewish State of ethnic cleansing and Apartheid, the motion calls for members to boycott the Jewish State and even to refuse to take part in trips organised by Australian Jewish organisations, which they label “pro-Israel lobby groups”.
Disgracefully, the Motion goes on to reject the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, which is accepted by every major Jewish organisation and has bi-partisan political support in Australia as well as many universities internationally.
Far from contributing in any way to peace, by wading into the Middle East conflict, these Australian educators spread intolerance and hate.”
In a climate of rising antisemitism and attacks on Jews, including on Australian university campuses, this motion is likely to add fuel to the fire. Jewish students repeatedly say they feel unsafe on campus and instead of standing with their students, these educators have taken the side of the attackers.
It is understandable that Jewish members no longer feel welcome in the NTEU. AJA is calling for the Union to rescind this hateful Motion and engage in dialogue with the Jewish community.”
A spokesperson for the NTEU told J-Wire: “The Union has a proud history of standing up against oppression and defending academic freedom. Describing the motion as antisemitic is a gross misrepresentation.
The motion clearly states: The NTEU opposes antisemitism and all prejudice in the strongest terms and will consult with Jewish academics and community organisations to determine how to address and counter antisemitism at universities.
The NTEU believes that adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism at Australian universities should be opposed, as it would chill free speech, restrict academic freedom, and restrict peaceful political expression.
The NTEU agrees with concerns, articulated by more than 40 Jewish organisations and numerous academics in Australia and worldwide, that this definition is worded in a way that conflates legitimate criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism.”
The Zionist Federation of Australia rejected the NTEU motion.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “The NTEU has packed lies, half-truths and obfuscations into a motion that is specifically designed to reduce understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to increase the exclusion and danger that Jewish Australians are facing on campus.”
Mr Leibler continued, “While spurious and easily disproven allegations about Israel are offensive and highlight the wilful ignorance of NTEU members, the real harm in this motion is the denial of Jewish indigeneity – indeed, Jewish connection – to the land of Israel. Far from being a colonialist endeavour, Israel is the self-determination of its indigenous inhabitants. Describing Israel as practising colonialism, apartheid and genocide is a deliberate tactic designed to seek the ostracism of anyone who supports Israel’s existence. It is a deliberate tactic designed to exclude almost every Jew in Australia.”
Mr Leibler rejected the motion’s paragraphs on antisemitism. “That the NTEU has the temerity to define and tell the Jewish community what is and isn’t antisemitism is deeply insulting. The definition the community overwhelmingly endorses is the one also endorsed by the UN, by the EU and by Australian federal and state governments – the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.”
The NTEU is not aligned to the Australian Labor Party
and disgracefully UK minister Gove rejects a definition of islamaphobia and smeared the Islamophobia definition formulated by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on British Muslims in 2018 as “drivel”
Universities are supposed to be bastions of free speech,forward thinking, co-operation on development of ideas and providers of education. Several Israeli universities are in the league of leading world institutions, contribute to massive developments to help mankind and educate Israelis of all backgrounds. Many Palestinians receive an education far superior to anything they could hope to receive in any other the Middle Eastern country.
By all means support Palestinian statehood but not at the expense of isolating and denigrating Israeli universities. They are truly independent of the state of Israel, as Australian universities are independent of the Australian government.
When only one culture is targeted, with no discussion allowed, that is pure racism and antisemitic. Where are the laws of anti racism in Australia?