Harvard Adopts a Strict Definition of Antisemitism for Discipline Cases
New York TimesJAN 16
Harvard to Adopt IHRA Definition of Antisemitism
Above: The school motto "Veritas" is inscribed over a gate at the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, June 30, 2015. Image copyright: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Contributor via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
It's regrettable that legal action had to be taken for Harvard University to comply with its obligations to protect Jews on campus. Nonetheless, the terms of the settlement are a step in the right direction.
Pro-Palestine narrative
While the IRHA definition is widely used, it is overly broad in that it punishes protected political speech and conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Making Zionism a protected category is also a troubling development that will obstruct free speech on campus.