SOAS director rejects new ‘contentious’ anti-Semitism definition
Baroness Amos does not support the Government's newly-adopted more expansive definition of anti-Semitism
The head of a London university has said she did not adopt the Government’s new working definition of anti-Semitism because the university’s own Centre for Jewish Studies said it was “contentious”.
Baroness Amos, director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), made the comments during a BBC ‘Sunday Politics’ interview about recent incidents on campuses across the capital involving scuffles between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students.
She said her “first priority is the duty of care we have to all our students,” adding that the diversity of SOAS – where students from 130 countries learn – was also crucial. “At the same time, we’re a university,” she said. “We promote dialogue, robust discussion… There are lots of political dimensions that frame some of this.”
She said SOAS policies on respect were taken from the Equality Act, which lists protected characteristics including race and religion, but when asked why SOAS had not adopted the new International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which includes reference to Israel as a “racist endeavour,” she said: “Our responsibility as a university is not to define anti-Semitism.”
She added: “I consulted with our own Centre for Jewish Studies on this, who basically said this definition is a contentious definition. There are some who lecture in anti-Semitism who think it’s OK.”
Universities Minister Jo Johnson has already urged higher education institutions to voluntarily adopt the IHRA definition, which also states that comparisons between the policies of Nazi Germany and modern-day Israel are anti-Semitic.
Earlier in the interview, Amos was asked about an incident being reported in which a Jewish female student at SOAS said a pro-Palestinian peer took her Israeli flag out of her bag. Amos said: “We’re investigating that.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
