Several UCLA professors signed a petition calling for a pro-Israel organization to stop what they perceive to be a censoring of classes on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, claiming the organization has restricted academic freedom on campus.
David Myers, chair of the UCLA Department of History who co-authored the petition with Steven Zipperstein, a professor at Stanford, said he found it strange to discover how the AMCHA Initiative, a pro-Israel advocacy group, regarded some colleagues as being anti-Israel, even though he said he thinks they are committed to promoting democratic values.
About 50 Jewish studies professors, including four at UCLA, have signed the petition as of Monday, Myers said.
AMCHA, which regularly investigates the University of California for perceived anti-Semitic behaviors, recently alleged that the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies demonstrates an anti-Israel bias in events the center hosts.
In early September, the organization also published a list of professors, some from UCLA, whom it claims are anti-Israel. The AMCHA initiative alleged that professors on the list have publicly announced their beliefs by signing a widespread petition supporting the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, which calls for the divestment of companies that profit from the Israel occupation of the Palestinian territories.
AMCHA has called for UCLA and the U.S. Department of Education to examine the behavior of faculty at the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies, since the center receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
AMCHA has claimed that the center has violated Title VI of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which calls for academic centers that receive federal funding to reflect diverse points of view.
In the petition, Jewish studies professors said they think AMCHA’s definition of anti-Semitism is too broad and the organization restricts open debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The professors added that they are opposed to any traces of anti-Semitism.
“(AMCHA’s) definition of anti-Semitism is so undiscriminating as to be meaningless,” the petition said. “AMCHA’s approach closes off all but the most narrow intellectual directions.”
The petition also claims AMCHA is monitoring activities at the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies, which the professors who signed it consider to be infringing on academic freedom.
Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, co-founder of AMCHA and a lecturer at UC Santa Cruz, said AMCHA used a definition set by the U.S. State Department to define anti-Semitism. When analyzing events, the organization had at least three people looking at every incident, Rossman-Benjamin said.
“Our criteria is very specific,” Rossman-Benjamin said. “If those professors believe this is not a good definition, I ask them to tell us what should be in its place.”
According to the U.S. State Department, anti-Semitic behavior includes demonizing and stereotyping Israel and justifying harm of Jewish individuals. AMCHA also includes promoting the BDS movement as being anti-Semitic.
Myers, however, said he thinks AMCHA misinterprets what constitutes anti-Semitic activity.
“What constitutes demonization? What is unfair criticism? That’s in the eyes of the beholder,” Myers said. “AMCHA has given itself a great deal of latitude allowing themselves to determine (what is anti-Semitic).”
Professors whom AMCHA deemed as anti-Semitic or anti-Israel said they have a right to academic freedom.
Ismail Poonawala, a professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the UCLA Center of Near Eastern Studies, called AMCHA’s claims ridiculous.
“To silence those who criticize Israeli government’s policy.” Poonawala said. “Democracy cannot survive unless there is a vibrant discussion of the government’s policy, and for that freedom of expression are essential.”
Myers said that by helping to organize the petition, he wants to advance rather than discourage open discussion of Israeli politics and society.
“The actions of AMCHA are antithetical to the free marketplace of ideas that a great university should provide,” Myers said. “The focus of AMCHA suggests to me that it has an agenda of not merely informing but of calling out and castigating views that do not conform to its own.”
Rossman-Benjamin, however, said the organization does not intend to silence any speech, but to keep universities accountable.
“We are not calling for any particular actions except that … stakeholders (be) aware of what’s happening on campus,” Rossman-Benjamin said.
The UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies does not plan to change its programming.