Government’s IHRA based antisemitism training is divisive and dangerous
JVL Introduction
The government has started a (tightly timetabled) tender process for £5.5 million to provide training in antisemitism – and a sort of kite mark for schools and colleges to attain. Both aspects of the work have the IHRA “working definition” at the centre, which is controversial, the use of which has been heavily criticised by the author himself . We ask where is the commensurate funding for other groups affected by racism, this? This article also asks how money is found for this when dramatic cuts, especially in arts education are being imposed, the very parts of our curriculum and universities thatr can provide space for exploring the issues.. There is opposition to this initiative and we encourage you to add your name to this open letter ‘Tackling Antisemitism in Education’ Tender (google.com)
This article is reproduced with the kind permission of Middle East Eye; it is not available for republication.
LL
This article was originally published by Middle East Eye on Fri 9 Feb 2024. Read the original here.
UK to invest over £5m in 'politically motivated' antisemitism training in schools and universities
Campaigners warn new training uses controversial antisemitism definitions and could affect free speech
Pro-Palestinian campaigners have criticised as “politically motivated” new plans by the British government that it says are aimed at tackling antisemitism in the education system.
Details of the £5.5m initiative, which the government says is intended to “tackle antisemitism in education” and to promote the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) “working definition” of antisemitism in schools and universities, were revealed on Tuesday.
According to the government website, the programme aims to “support schools, colleges, and universities to tackle antisemitism effectively” by “increasing understanding of antisemitism amongst staff and learners” and “increasing staff ability to identify and tackle incidents of antisemitism”.
“Alongside this, the Supplier(s) will also be responsible for the development and implementation of supporting resources, including on the situation in Israel following the terrorist attacks on 7 October, which tackle mis- and disinformation, and can be used in student engagement activity,” reads the website, referring to the Hamas attack on southern Israel.
The procurement is split into two: the first is dedicated to programmes targeting universities, with the “cornerstone” of the contract being the rollout of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
The second tranche of funding is earmarked for rolling out the initiative in schools and colleges.
Not fit for purpose
The new initiative comes amid what the University and Colleges Union (UCU) has described as “endemic” cuts to the arts and humanities at UK universities.
The English Language and Linguistics department at the University of Kent recently announced that they were at risk of “being cut entirely”.
In this climate, some campaigners have claimed the new initiative is more about playing politics than ensuring safety for Jewish students.
“The UK has decided to invest over £5m in the [IHRA] definition’s implementation at a time when universities across the country, including places like Kent, are slashing programmes in humanities and firing staff members,” Neve Gordon, the chair of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES)’s Committee on Academic Freedom and professor of human rights at Queen Mary University in London, told MEE.
“There is money to invest in a politically motivated definition that has been used to shield Israeli crimes, but there has been no support offered by the government for Palestinian students and staff, no partnerships with Palestinian universities.”
A report co-authored by BRISMES and the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), previously concluded that the IHRA definition was undermining academic freedom and the rights to lawful speech by staff and students.
The report analysed 40 cases in which UK university staff and students were accused of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition and found that in all but two instances, the accusations were rejected.
Describing the IHRA definition as “not fit for purpose”, BRISMES and the ELSC said it was harming the mental health, reputation, and career prospects of students and staff who had been falsely accused of antisemitism.
Over 200 universities, colleges, and higher education providers in the UK have adopted the definition.
Readers might also want to take a look at the obscenity that is ‘Hope Not Hate’s’ page on leftwing anti-Semitism.
Scandalous!
https://hopenothate.org.uk/2020/10/27/left-wing-antisemitism-an-explainer/ us!
Criticism of the racist ideology that is Zionism is legally protected
Criticism of the Apartheid Genocial state of Israel is mandatory
This is disgraceful. Whoever is responsible for sanctioning this should be sacked, immediately.
They, quite obviously, do not know the difference between the IHRA, The Jerusalem Declaration on Anti-Semitism, The Nexus Document on Israel and Anti-Semitism, nor the views of Professor Kenneth Stern – lead author of the IHRA – on his own document.
Either that, or they – do – know and are willfully ignoring the differences for the sake of conflating anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, which in the present circumstances, is criminal.
One other thought occurs to me. I have, yet, to see an MSM journalist capable of holding an intelligent discussion on the IHRA and why it should – not – be used.
Faced with a Zionist determined to promote their agenda, the journalist will sit there, open-mouthed and wide-eyed, unable to present counterarguments, because of their ignorance.
Whether this is deliberate, or not, it is unprofessional, on the journalist’s part, and does a grave disservice to their audience – and to the wider public.
I wonder if the government can be taken to court on this? If a case could be mounted?
Spend £5.5million on the NHS instead of trying to cover up the genocide by your friends by silencing criticism of Israel which dies not equate to criticism of Jews
Gavin Lewis – I un-subscribed from “Hope Not
Hate” after one of their posts, giving them the
reason why – which I now cannot remember.
I was regretful that it had come to this for
the sentiment: “Let Hope replace Hate”
initially appeared to reflect their ideas.
With reference to my last post (25/2) – I have now found my mail
to “Hope Not Hate” giving the reason for unsubscribing. It is dated
October 2020 and was composed in haste. In addition time has moved on but I will nevertheless quote in full:
*******************************************************
My Mail to Hope Note Hate (dated: October 2020)
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***** “I am unsubscribing because you quote the Jewish Labour Movement as if it were the only Jewish Voice. contrary there are many voices – one being the “Jewish Voice of Labour” (JVL) but there are others also – I am using that organisation as an example. As a Gentile I think it only right to treat ALL Jewish views with respect and consideration for to do otherwise would be antisemitic. (“The Hive Mind” is after all an antisemitic trope.)
I have heard JVL called “not really Jewish” and am appalled at this. I am a Christian – a Roman Catholic with RC “recusant” Lancashire ancestors and am aware that a couple of Centuries ago it was against the law for some of my ancestors to practice their faith. Until recently Catholics were barred from taking up some Public Offices. I hasten to add that there was intolerance on both sides of the divide – eg Roman Catholics were discouraged by their Church in attending other Christian services.
We have also had more than a Century of division in Ireland – ostensibly about Religion though other issues were involved. As a result there was intolerance and sectarianism on both sides of the Irish Border – for again this was not one-sided. There was also a war with much loss of life on both sides of the Irish Sea – but thank goodness these differences are being healed now.
Thee is no need to go through the divisions in the Islamic Community – again with violence and loss of life and I am not including terrorist organisations such asa DAISH.
Havent we had enough of all this? I personally am sick of these divisions and the Main Stream Media is not helping by only presenting one side.
This is the OPPOSITE of what Hope not Hate should be standing for .. and for this reason I am unsubscribing from your Organisation. “