UCL academic resigns in disgust following Academic Board’s resolution against International Definition of Antisemitism

An academic at University College London (UCL) has resigned over the Academic Board’s advisory resolution calling on the University to “retract and replace” the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Lars Fischer, a scholar of Hebrew and Jewish Studies and editor of an academic journal on Jewish history, has quit his role and slammed UCL as an “antisemitic cesspit”.

In a blog post dated 9th February, Dr Fischer wrote: “I have now become aware of the prominent role colleagues from Hebrew and Jewish Studies have played in spearheading the appalling assault on the [D]efinition currently being mounted at UCL.”

He went on to observe that “when I embarked on the academic study of antisemitism, it was still taken for granted that one did so in order to combat antisemitism. These days have long gone, and the academy is now full of academics who specialise in explaining why only some forms of antisemitism are harmful and others are not actually forms of antisemitism anyway. Whatever they may believe their subjective intentions to be, they are doing wonders for antisemitism promotion.”

UCL adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism in 2019 but last week its Academic Board passed an advisory resolution calling on the University to “retract and replace” the Definition. The Students’ Union recently voted down a similar resolution.

Following the Academic Board’s vote, Campaign Against Antisemitism announced that it was writing to the Provost of UCL.

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].