University of Aberdeen shamefully adopts wrecking Jerusalem Declaration instead of International Definition of Antisemitism
In a shameful decision, the University of Aberdeen has adopted the Jerusalem Declaration, a wrecking document intended to undermine the globally-recognised International Definition of Antisemitism.
The University finalised its decision after consulting for a reported two years, following concerns raised at the University’s senate which alleged that the Definition “impinged too heavily on academic freedom and the work of academics” and posed a “threat to academic freedom”.
The advice of the University’s Race Definitions Task and Finish Group was apparently ignored after it unsuccessfully proposed that the Definition should be adopted in May 2021, and have since noted that the Jerusalem Declaration was “developed largely as a response to the [Definition]”.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities said: “If the critics of the [Definition] had taken the trouble to read it, they would see that far from ‘defining antisemitism as any critique of the state of Israel’, it explicitly says the opposite – the second paragraph begins ‘criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.’
“Unfortunately however there is no shortage of antisemitism of all kinds on campuses, and universities and their staff should be at the forefront of stamping it out. If they claim to oppose racism but tolerate antisemitism of any kind, they are simply proving David Baddiel’s thesis that ‘Jews don’t count’ and indulging in second-order antisemitism.”
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The Jerusalem Declaration is a wrecking document intended to undermine the globally-recognised International (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism. The University is the only such institution in the country to take this scandalous position. In rejecting the Definition that has consensus support across the Jewish community in favour of the fringe and controversial Jerusalem Declaration, the University has done the opposite of standing with British Jews and Jewish students.”
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].
