At a hearing on March 28 of the UMSU Board in which presentations were made in support of a motion to adopt a definition of anti-Palestinian racism, a Palestinian student referred to the fact that in 2021 UMSU adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism. He said that because of this, UMSU ought to support the definition of anti-Palestinian racism which has been put forth before UMSU, a definition which was developed by the Canadian Arab Lawyer’s Association.

It is, submitted, however, that IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] definition of antisemitism is not at all like the proposed definition of anti-Palestinian racism now before UMSU. The IHRA definition of antisemitism was not created by any "Canadian Jewish Lawyer’s Association" or other Jewish body, but was created by IHRA, an inter-governmental international body, made up of 35 Member Countries and Seven Observers, founded in 1998 by former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson.

The proposed definition of anti-Palestinian racism before UMSU does not have any qualifiers or in built limitations that would protect free speech made by Zionist/Jewish students in support of the Jewish right to self determination in their ancestral homeland, Israel. The IHRA definition has an important qualifier that says "criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic," which means that free speech is not unduly limited. The IHRA definition of antisemitsm in no way attacks or impugns the rights of another people to self-determination or the right to another state to exist. The proposed definition of anti-Palestinian racism, however, has no qualifiers whatsoever, and in fact attacks the Jewish right to self-determination and the very legitimacy of Israel to even exist as a state in the region.

The proposed definition of anti-Palestinian racism will not allow for supporters of Israel to present their viewpoint on campus, or criticize Hamas or the Palestinian side in any way, without running afoul of the definition of "Nakba Denial " in the proposed resolution. Similarly, anyone speaking in favour of a two-state solution, Canada's stated policy, will run afoul of the definition of Nakba Denial in the proposed definition before UMSU.

Before the IHRA definition of antisemitism was adopted by IHRA is was workshopped for many years, with appropriate limitations and qualifiers set out to ensure proper checks and balances. No such process not occurred with the proposed anti-Palestinian racism definition proposed by the Canadian Arab Lawyers Association. Again, support for the IHRA working definition of antisemitism is not just from Jewish organizations or bodies. The Global Imams Council, the world’s largest transnational NGO of Muslim religious leaders from all Islamic Denominations and schools of thought has adopted the IHRA working definition. The Secretary General of the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the European Parliament and Commission, and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, as well as dozens of democratic states have adopted the IHRA definition of IHRA, including Canada and the United States.

This is not the case with the proposed definition of anti-Palestinian racism, which has not been adopted by any country, including Canada, nor by any Canadian province, let alone by any intergovernmental body or organization. No major mainstream Canadian Jewish organization, similar to the Global Imams Council, has adopted the proposed anti-Palestinian racism definition.

While no one opposes the concept of protecting all students, including Palestinian students, against discrimination, the proposed motion would have vast and negative, if unintended consequences. It would have to be replaced by a new motion not merely adjusted under time pressure. As and when it can be replaced by a properly considered and temperate proposal, it should be accompanied by the following: Nothing in the definition of anti-Palestinian racism should be interpreted or applied in any manner that derogates or abrogates from UMSU's continuing support for the IHRA definition of antisemitism, or from its commitment to free expression for all students.

To read more about the proposed "Nabka Denial Motion" click here.