Thread by @ShahrarAli

Calling Party members - this weekend please prioritise two motions to #gpconf which would put paid to IHRA & defend Palestinian rights instead.

And reminder below for those intent on ad hominem attacks against lifelong antiracists - not something I'm going to take lying down.

https://twitter.com/ShahrarAli/status/1319299816430645255

You can hear Kenneth Stern author of the IHRA repudiating misappropriation of the examples here - recent debate Dec 2020

You can read David Feldman director of @PearsInstitute for study of antisemitism on how the IHRA is counterproductive on its own terms theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

You can read the expert opinion of top lawyers and judges on the fundamental irreconcilability of the imposition of this flawed definition with free speech in our Universities. theguardian.com/news/2021/jan/…

Should @TheGreenParty be campaigning for or against adoption of IHRA in English universities as per Williamson's edicts?

ESSENTIAL READING. Here's an excellent, thorough report of the Academic Board Working Group on Racism and Prejudice @ucl on their prior adoption of IHRA. Epic fail. ucl.ac.uk/ucu/sites/ucu/…

"The bulk of our report examines the efficacy of the IHRA working definition, both in terms of its educational value and as a proscriptive tool for identifying antisemitism at universities and ensuring effective institutional reporting and enforcement."

"In the process we have identified a major concern in the conflation of the adoption of a special definition with the actual institutional combatting of antisemitism itself. Merely adopting this definition does not ensure efficacy in implementing appropriate measures."

"Another concern is manner in which IHRA disproportionally draws debates over Israel & Palestine into conversations around antisemitism, potentially conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism, & offering a large number of egs. focusing on political conflict,..."

"... thereby muddling the explanatory power of the definition and risking the suppression of legitimate speech and academic research."

"After close examination of the debates over the IHRA and academic freedom from across the world, we have concluded that this specific working definition IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE within a university setting and has no legal basis for enforcement." [emphasis added]

"Moreover, we have examined how the adoption of the IHRA working definition may in fact undermine institutional responsibility to enforce these [other] policies and procedures, providing a tokenistic gesture rather than a rigorous and enforceable set of procedures and protocols."

Recommendation: "advise Council to retract the adoption of IHRA and consider more coherent alternatives, clarifying that it has no proscriptive function alongside existing university policies and legal obligations."

"IHRA working definition is unhelpful in identifying cases of harassment and is therefore a weak tool for effective university action. The core definition itself is too vague and narrow, and the eleven examples often do not match experience, as elucidated in our discussion."

Lesson for all political parties - substitute for University your political party: "As a university, our primary mode of engagement must demonstrate analytical rigor and intellectual heft, rather than hasty responses to the exigencies of a political moment."

"It is precisely because of the seriousness with which we take the ongoing existence of antisemitism in our university and in broader society that the Working Group has made these recommendations." 👏👏👏

Here is a further very recent robust, analytical response against IHRA from British academics who are also Israeli citizens. israeliacademicsuk.org/the-letter

Has hardly been a time when so many lawyers, judges, academics have spoken out with such unanimity against IHRA. It's time for @TheGreenParty to lead & put paid to this bogus definition and fight all racism wherever it rears it's ugly head - including speaking truth abt Israel.