For several months now, the U.S. government has been conducting a substantial amount of necessary work on fighting anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism. At the end of March, Congress created a Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, based on the Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism. The State Department’s definition, which currently is used only for international monitoring, includes demonizing Israel, delegitimizing Israel, and holding Israel to a double standard to that of any other country in the world. Currently, U.S. administrative agencies, State governments, and universities have not adopted this definition, and still lack a formal definition of anti-Semitism. Defining anti-Semitism would be exceptionally useful for articulating the boundaries of discrimination and harassment towards the Jewish people and ensuring their civil rights are adequately protected, while not intruding on First Amendment free speech rights. Certain state governments have been taking steps in the right direction, in terms of adopting resolutions condemning anti-Semitism, and condemning the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel (BDS) movement. The Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism is endorsed in a Californian bill, SCR-35 which urges “each University of California campus to adopt a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and racism, and would condemn any act of anti-Semitism augmenting education programs at all publicly funded schools in the State of California.” The BDS Movement has experiencing a strong backlash in certain State Legislatures, and we hope this trend will spread. Previously condemned by the Indiana and Tennessee State Legislatures, the Illinois State Legislature is currently on the verge of passing an anti-BDS resolution. The bill, SB 1761, was passed unanimously by the Senate and the House of Representatives Executive Committee. It will now move forward to the full chamber of the House of Representatives for a final vote. This bill, pushed forward by Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, “Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits a State agency from entering into a contract subject to the Code with a business that boycotts Israel.” By cutting the state sponsored pension funds to the companies participating in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, the Illinois State Legislature makes a strong point in combatting the anti-Israel movement. SB 1761 is modeled on previous state legislation divesting from Darfur and Iran, and concerns not only American businesses but foreign companies, as well. The Export Administration Act of 1979 (EAA), though not renewed, prohibits American companies to divest from Israel. But this federal law does not apply to foreign businesses. On May 13, B’nai B’rith International released a statement applauding “Illinois citizens and their representatives for taking such a strong stance against a movement rooted in anti-Semitism that ultimately impedes the peace process by opposing constructive dialogue between Israel and Palestinians.” If the House of Representatives approves the bill, Illinois would become the first state to ban foreign companies to boycott Israel, and it would pave the way for other states to implement such legislation, as well.
University of California In response to growing worries about Anti-Semitic behaviors, especially in the University of California school system, over 500 of the school’s alums sent a letter to UC President Janet Napolitano telling their alma mater that it is imperative the system implement means to restrict and inhibit acts of Anti-Semitism against students. President Napolitano agrees. According to an article in The Algemeiner, Napolitano went even as far to say the issue “is actually going to be on the board of regent agenda at its July meeting.” Napolitano, when asked, said that she would indeed support a resolution on Anti-Semitism that adds demonizing, delegitimizing, or applying a double standard to Israel to the list of Anti-Semitic acts. The UC alums joined a coalition of 23 organizations working to defeat Anti-Semitism, including The Brandeis Center, to call on President Napolitano to approve the adoption of the U.S. State Department’s operational definition of Anti-Semitism, which recognizes that there are both traditional and contemporary examples of Anti-Semitism, the latter, usually, hiding behind Anti-Israel sentiments. These include but are not limited to: applying double standards to Israel, equating Israel to Hitler, and the outright de-legitimization of Israel. The definition as sanctioned by the U.S. State Department is as follows: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” More than 250 members of the well-known Anti-Israel group, Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP), had requested that the State Department amend the above definition of Anti-Semitism, citing that, “it could be used to ‘silence critics of Israel.’” It is extremely important for the UC school system to utilize this definition of Anti-Semitism because, as LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus puts it, “a definition of such can articulate the boundaries of discrimination and harassment towards the Jewish people to help ensure their civil rights are adequately protected, while not intruding on First Amendment free speech rights.”