Universities worldwide have been using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism to suppress critical commentary on Israel’s human rights violations and war crimes. In Australia, this definition has had a chilling effect on campus, especially amid Israel’s bombing of Gaza, which has resulted in substantial loss of life, including children. At the University of Melbourne, the highest-ranked institution in Oceania, the administration has embraced the official Israeli narrative and refused to denounce what legal experts have called a textbook case of genocide. While attempts at resistance have been made by students and staff, the IHRA definition undermines academic freedom and perpetuates colonial violence on campus.
The Parliamentary Friends of IHRA group urged Australian universities to adopt the IHRA definition, and five have done so while seven, including notable institutions like Australian National University and the University of Adelaide, have rejected the call. The University of Melbourne was the first to publicly adopt the IHRA definition, framing it as part of an antiracism initiative, despite concerns raised by both Palestinian and Jewish academics.
Many scholars argue that the IHRA definition is not grounded in contemporary anti-racism scholarship, and its adoption undermines the fight against racism and silences criticism of Israeli apartheid. The definition, which is meant to combat anti-Semitism, has been weaponized to silence critique of Israel and Zionism at universities both in Australia and the Global North.
Even before the adoption of the IHRA definition, there were attempts to intimidate and silence those who spoke out against Zionism at the University of Melbourne. This tactic of lawfare has had a chilling effect on campuses, restricting political freedom. Palestinian and Muslim students and staff have felt their experiences dismissed and their expertise challenged, and Jewish students and staff worry about frivolous complaints and disciplinary action if they speak out against Israel.
Despite these pressures, students, staff, and unions at the University of Melbourne have pushed back against the IHRA definition and spoken out against the Israeli war on Gaza. An open letter signed by thousands and public statements aim to defend academic freedom and challenge the censorship instilled by the definition.
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and over 100 trade unions in Australia have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, showing that there is an urgent need for higher education workers to take action beyond verbal condemnation. The indiscriminate killing of Palestinians in Gaza highlights the importance of solidarity and action within the academic community.