cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/14933719
The bill passed the House on Wednesday by a margin of 320 to 91, and it is largely seen as a reaction to the ongoing antiwar protests unfolding on US university campuses. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
But critics warn IHRA’s definition could be used to stifle campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of 34,568 Palestinians so far.
In a letter sent to lawmakers on Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) urged House members to vote against the legislation, saying federal law already prohibits anti-Semitic discrimination and harassment.
The Biden administration and other top Washington officials have pledged steadfast support for Israel, despite mounting humanitarian concerns over its military campaign.
Yes. One of the silver linings of this awful Gaza situation is that it is REALLY shining a very bright light on the people that have been able to get away with claiming that anything critical of Israel, or our support of Israel, or the open-air prison/apartheid system they have going, etc., is in any way “antisemitic”. For decades that was a shorthand way of shutting any adult conversation about Israel right down, immediately, often IRL (esp. on the job where you really have to be careful) and most especially on the “liberal media”.
I’m not so sure that’s the case any more. I won’t be sad to see that tactic get shown the door.