It’s about time side of the issue got some attention. There are a metric ton of Federal regulations governing discrimination on campus. But one form of bigotry is still acceptable and its practitioners whine endlessly as if they are the ones being persecuted.
The ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee asked the US Department of Education to ensure that college programs receiving federal funds not include an anti-Israel bias
In a letter sent Monday to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), requested that standards of accountability be adopted so that any college or university receiving federal Title VI funding not have an anti-Israel slant.
“Incidents of anti-Semitism have spiked worldwide in recent months, including many that were born out of protests against Israel’s acts of self-defense against the terrorist group Hamas,” Lowey stated in the letter. “It is vital to ensure that academic programs do not become tilted against Israel in a way that engenders anti-Semitism or criticism of Israel that devolves into the defamation of the Jewish people.”
She urged the Department of Education “to immediately adopt standards to prevent imbalanced programs, particularly those that may spread anti-Semitic attitudes, from receiving funds.” Lowey also asked Duncan to look into excluding programs that have an anti-Israel agenda.
The widespread promotion of bigotry using Federal funds is supposed to be unacceptable with any other group, but an exception has been made for Jews. That exception should be challenged.
The State Department already has a well-defined policy on anti-Semitism.
EXAMPLES of the ways in which anti-Semitism manifests itself with regard to the state of Israel, taking into account the overall context could include:
DEMONIZE ISRAEL:
Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis
Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis
Blaming Israel for all inter-religious or political tensions
DOUBLE STANDARD FOR ISRAEL:
Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation
Multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations
DELEGITIMIZE ISRAEL:
Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, and denying Israel the right to exist
However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic.
