Nearly 700 Jewish college faculty members have signed a letter urging President Biden not to support the Antisemitism Awareness Act. The academics argue that the act’s use of the International Holocaust Awareness Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism could conflate legitimate criticisms of Israel with antisemitism.
The letter states, “Criticism of the state of Israel, the Israeli government, policies of the Israeli government, or Zionist ideology is not — in and of itself — antisemitic.” It further urges political leaders to reject any effort to codify into federal law a definition of antisemitism that conflates antisemitism with criticism of Israel.
The faculty members warn that the bill could “delegitimize and silence Jewish Americans — among others — who advocate for Palestinian human rights or otherwise criticize Israeli policies.” They suggest lawmakers pass the bill using a different definition of antisemitism, “without undermining Jewish safety and civil rights by insulating Israel from legitimate criticism.”
The bill has faced opposition in Congress, with critics warning that it could chill free speech. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) criticized the legislation for being written without regard for the Constitution, common sense, or the common understanding of words. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who is Jewish, also voiced his opposition to the bill, calling it “misguided” and a threat to constitutionally protected speech.
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