German scholars warn: New antisemitism resolution threatens academic freedom

A group of prominent German scholars have criticized lawmakers over a controversial resolution to combat antisemitism, warning that it threatens the academic liberties of the country.

The German lower house of parliament on Wednesday passed the resolution “Opposing Antisemitism and Hostility Towards Israel in Schools and Universities and Securing Free Discourse”, despite vocal opposition from university scholars, legal experts, and civil rights advocates.

Prof. Michael Zurn from the Berlin Social Science Center WZB sounded the alarm once more at a press conference in Berlin on Thursday, warning that the controversial antisemitism resolution could restrict academic freedoms and criticism of the Israeli regime’s actions.

“Firstly, it infringes on academic freedom. Secondly, it formulates a German special path in the international discussion. And thirdly, it opens up possibilities for political influence,” Zurn said.

This kind of political intervention and academic restriction would put international partnerships of German universities and schools at risk, the professor warned.

“We would actually have to subject every doctoral student or post-doc scholar to a political attitudes inquiry before inviting them as guests. This would paint a strange picture of German academia,” he said.

The antisemitism resolution, which received broad support on Wednesday from major political parties in the Bundestag, endorsed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

It calls for blocking activities of groups promoting boycotts against Israel, including the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, from German educational institutions.

The professor said that while he is also critical of the BDS movement, he sees the resolution as a political intervention in the academic world—a means to legalize slapping tough restrictions on academic freedoms.

“I have always spoken out against BDS, but the provision that these scholars, people cannot have a place at German universities seems highly problematic to me,” he said.

Max Planck Institute’s Prof. Ralf Michaels also voiced strong opposition to the new antisemitism resolution, telling the lawmakers that they had failed to properly consider the academic perspectives and input during the drafting process.

Michaels condemned efforts to mount political pressure on the academic world and said the motion, contrary to its claims, “does not protect the Jews at all,” particularly those who hold critical views of the Israeli regime’s policies.

He said, “Students demonstrating against Israeli policy … are already facing difficulties,” noting that the new resolution restricts Jews. “Jewish scientists such as Omer Bartov, Judith Butler and Amos Goldberg are likely to face difficulties conducting research in Germany with German institutions under this resolution.”

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