https://www.politico.com/newsletters/mo ... ism-336946
The Trump administration is changing how the Education Department investigates allegations of discrimination against Jewish students, backing an approach that is favored by pro-Israel groups but that critics worry will stifle free speech on campus.
The policy change was outlined in a letter last month by Kenneth Marcus, who leads the department’s Office for Civil Rights, in which he re-opened a 2011 investigation into Rutgers University about alleged discrimination against Jewish students. Marcus wrote that the Education Department, in its investigations into discrimination, would adopt the “working definition” of anti-Semitism that is “widely used by governmental agencies” including the State Department. That definition includes examples in which demonizing or delegitimizing Israel, or holding it to a double standard not expected of other democratic nations, are deemed anti-Semitic.
The Obama administration closed the Rutgers case in 2014 citing insufficient evidence of discrimination. Marcus' letter says the department will now reevaluate the evidence “in light of the definition of anti-Semitism.” Investigators will seek to determine, Marcus wrote, “whether a hostile environment on the basis of national origin or race existed at the University for students of actual or perceived Jewish ancestry or ethnic characteristics.”
Congress has debated the definition over the past several years. In 2016, the Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation that would have forced the department to use the State Department definition in evaluating discrimination complaints. But the bill hit a snag in the House over concerns that it could interfere with students’ free speech rights. The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the bill earlier this year, but the legislation so far hasn’t gone anywhere in this Congress.
But civil liberties and free speech groups have opposed the definition. The groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and PEN America, argue that the definition of anti-Semitism is too broad and would threaten political speech, such as criticism of Israel policy, on college campuses.
“It’s certainly something that we feared would happen,” said Dima Khalidi, director of Palestine Legal, adding that the new definition “opens the door to equate any criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.” Khalidi also criticized the Education Department for adopting the definition “without any process or public input.”
Several pro-Israel groups, meanwhile, including the American Jewish Committee, praised the Trump administration’s move. The Zionist Organization of America, which filed the original complaint against Rutgers and appealed, praised the Education Department’s “landmark” decision to adopt the definition.
... well, on the bright side, at least "Trump is an antisemite" is definitely dead and buried. On the not-so-bright side, though?
It's a no-brainer to say that criticism of Israeli policy does not automatically mean bigotry against Jews in general -- that some Jews will do bad shit does not mean every Jew is evil, let alone be part of a malevolent hive mind that feeds on the helpless and whose utter elimination is the only solution.
However, as much as I would love to append "(conspiracy theorists, antisemites, and other fuckups aside)", I can't, due to this development. The limited subject of college free speech aside (and with Trump who knows where this will end?), the implications from hereon are terrifying, not least for those lobbying on Israel's behalf. I mean, really, you really want to fuel the flames of bigotry by implicitly endorsing the nonsense that has gotten untold millions of whoever the Nazis called Jews murdered in Europe more than 7 decades ago? For political gain? Are you fucks this fucking shortsighted?
Anyway, guys, your thoughts and all.
