July 28, 2017 Key U.S. Special Envoy Position Is Still Vacant The State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism has remained vacant since July 1 and the office remains without staff. The position, established by the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004, is responsible for, “U.S. foreign policy on anti-Semitism” and, “develops and implements policies and projects to support efforts to combat anti-Semitism.” The […] Anti-Semitism Blog
July 24, 2017 Leaders Take a Stand Against Anti-Zionism Earlier this week, both President Emmanuel Macron of France and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York made bold statements declaring their support of Israel, definitively condemning anti-Zionism as a modern manifestation of anti-Semitism. President Macron in a ceremony on July 16 addressed growing religious tensions in French, as well as the French government’s complicity the […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 11, 2017 Victory in South Africa: Anti-Israel Activist Guilty of Hate Speech On Thursday, June 29th, the Equality Court sitting in the South Gauteng High Court of South Africa found Bongani Masuku guilty of hate speech following his comments calling for Jewish lives to be made “hell,” among other incendiary remarks. Over twenty-five years since the end of apartheid, South Africa continues the fight to eradicate discrimination, and […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 11, 2017 Further Progress Against BDS: Ohio Takes A Stand On June 6th, the Ohio House of Representatives initiated a resolution condemning the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS) in response to rising incidents of anti-Semitism in the state. The House expects a vote on the measure in late August or early September of this year. The House Concurrent Resolution 10 calls for increased economic, […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 10, 2017 July 2017 – Beating BDS The last few weeks have seen state-wide anti-BDS victories in Kansas, Nevada, and North Carolina. Blog
July 5, 2017 UK Advocates Urge Anti-BDS Legislation After High Court Decision The British government cannot restrict local governments from engaging in boycotts against Israel, a UK High Court Judge ruled last week, prompting British pro-Israel advocates to call for primary anti-BDS legislation. The judgment, issued by Sir Ross Cranston, a judge of the High Court, Queens Bench Division, followed a case that challenged policy guidance issued […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog Litigation
June 30, 2017 House Task Force Praises European Parliament Action Washington, D.C., June 27th: Today, the U.S. Congress’ Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism issued an important letter in support of the European Parliament for its adoption, earlier this month, of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. While applauding the Parliament’s efforts, the Taskforce notes that “more work remains to be done,” and […] Anti-Semitism Blog
June 30, 2017 North Carolina General Assembly Passes Anti-BDS Bill In late June, legislators from North Carolina’s General Assembly passed House Bill 161, an anti-BDS bill which would seek to punish companies engaged with state business who actively participate in boycott campaigns against the State of Israel. The bill will now be sent to Governor Roy Cooper for his signature. Carin Savel, CEO of the […] Anti-Zionism Blog
June 21, 2017 SCOTUS Decision Could Impact Freedom of Speech Debate on Campus On June 19, the Supreme Court decided in Matal v. Tam that the government cannot refuse to trademark potentially derogatory or offensive names, a decision that will likely impact the national debate about hate speech and the First Amendment for decades. This ruling means that though hate speech remains constitutionally protected as a general matter, […] Litigation
June 21, 2017 LDB Urges Further Action from UW Madison Today, the Brandeis Center wrote to University of Wisconsin – Madison (“UW”) Chancellor Rebecca Blank, applauding her administration for castigating the Associated Students of Madison’s controversial April 26, 2017 Student Council (“ASM”) divestment measure, and urging further action from her administration. This past semester, the ASM introduced various versions of BDS resolutions, violating the ASM […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog