Australian universities continue to fail on the issue of antisemitism

In response to the Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia, there is an ongoing Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.  As part of the information gathering exercise, representatives from the Royal Commission have devoted five days to examining crucial information concerning antisemitism in Australian universities, including:-

• Lived experiences of antisemitism and its impacts on Jewish students and academics at Australian universities. 

• Responses by universities to combat antisemitism experienced by students and academics.

• Reports, surveys and studies addressing the nature and prevalence of, and responses to, antisemitism at Australian universities and other educational institutions.

On 29 October 2024, the Attorney-General had directed a Parliamentary Committee to launch its own inquiry regarding the growing problem of antisemitism at Australian universities.  The committee’s findings were not a surprise to anybody who had become alarmed at the steep rise in antisemitism, particularly after the events of October 7.  Yet, the committee found that antisemitism was actually on the increase before October 7.  In the introductory notes to the final report, the committee noted: “However, as several vice-chancellors said during our inquiry - the rise in antisemitic incidents on campus did not start on 7 October 2023.”  This was backed up by the Australian Jewish University Experience Survey, published in July 2023, which indicated that two-thirds of Jewish students had been victims of antisemitism on campus. 

When the aforementioned report into antisemitism on university campuses was released, not all were pleased with the findings.  Annexed to the report is a section entitled “Senator Thorpe Additional Comments”.  Though Senator Thorpe’s comments are too lengthy to provide specific analysis on in this article, it was disappointing to see that in a report dedicated to fighting antisemitism, she included a widely debunked statement: “Understanding the distinction between Zionism (a modern colonial ideology) and Judaism (a 3000 year-old religion) is crucial to be able to target racist Antisemitism.”  

Many attempt to mask their antisemitism by claiming that anti-Zionism is merely impassioned criticism of a nation that just happens to be Jewish.  By claiming Zionism is a “modern colonial ideology” they attempt to legitimise Palestinian ownership of the land at the expense of Jewish self-determination in the ancestral Jewish homeland.  The simple equation in the anti-Zionist mind is that if Zionism is indeed colonial, then the State of Israel is illegitimate.  But what most people refuse to accept is that the Jewish people do not just have a legal and historical right to the land, they have a biblical claim to it as their national homeland as well.    

Like many higher education institutions around the world, there is an ideological preoccupation with anti-Zionism that shows no tolerance for alternative views about Israel.  Despite the overwhelming ancestral, historical and cultural evidence of a 3000-year-old Jewish connection to the land, many academics are completely dismissive of the Jewish nation.  Hence, one is not fully accepted into leftist academia unless one declares total opposition to Israel Defence Force strategies, rejects Zionism in all its forms and gives unwavering support to the goals of Palestinian nationalism. 

As part of the plan to tackle antisemitism on university campuses, the Australian Government is fast-tracking recommendations made by the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal.  Segal’s report claimed antisemitism is “ingrained and normalised” in academia and cultural spaces, and said young Australians were being “raised on a diet of disinformation and misinformation about Jews”.  In an effort to hold universities accountable for beliefs and attitudes within their faculties, initiatives include withholding government funding from universities that “facilitate, enable or fail to act against antisemitism” and developing a “report card” system.  The report card initiative would grade universities from A to D in four key areas:-

• Policy settings;

• Complaint processes and policy enforcement;

• Definition of antisemitism and its integration; and

• Training for antisemitism awareness.

Given that many Jewish students felt unsafe on university campuses after October 7 (with some avoiding campuses altogether) the grading system seeks to highlight the need for universities to “effectively address access to campus grounds, regulate outdoor protests, encampments and display of flags, imagery and promotional materials”.

Yet, when it comes to adopting a clear definition of antisemitism, universities are dragging their feet. Shadow education minister Julian Leeser (who is Jewish) said it was “pathetic” that universities continued to flounder on the definition amidst the growing tension in Australia.  He also went on to claim two key reasons why universities are not acting swiftly: “First, universities have not realised, or do not accept, that antisemitism is serious. Second, they do not see ‘Jews’ as warranting protection.”

It is often said that the next generation of leaders are formed at universities.  That brings us no comfort whatsoever.  In fact, given the current state of Australian universities, it should fill us with dread.