New German antisemitism bill threatens academic freedom: Scholars
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According to some German professors, the new legislation threatens academic freedom by limiting criticism of Israeli policies and allowing political influence in universities.
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A woman is carried away by police officers during a pro-Palestine demonstration in a Berlin university in Germany, on May 7, 2024. (AP)
A group of renowned German professors has condemned legislators for a contentious resolution to allegedly combat antisemitism, claiming that it jeopardizes the country's academic freedom.
The German lower house of parliament passed the "Opposing Antisemitism and Hostility Towards Israel in Schools and Universities and Securing Free Discourse" resolution on Wednesday, despite strong opposition from university researchers, legal experts, and human rights organizations.
Professer Michael Zurn of the Berlin Social Science Center WZB sounded the alarm once more at a news conference in Berlin on Thursday, saying the contentious antisemitic resolution might limit academic freedoms and criticism of the Israeli occupation's conduct.
According to Zurn, it not only "infringes on academic freedom" but also “formulates a German special path in the international discussion. And thirdly, it opens up possibilities for political influence."
The expert cautioned that such political meddling and academic restrictions would jeopardize German institutions and schools' worldwide connections, detailing how doctoral students and post-doc scholars would have to be vetted for their political ideologies before admitting them, something he said would "paint a strange picture of German academia."
The antisemitic resolution, which won widespread support on Wednesday from major political parties in the Bundestag, approved the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
It advocates for the exclusion of groups pushing boycotts against "Israel", such as the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, from German educational institutions.
The professor stated that he sees the resolution as a political intrusion in the academic world—a way to codify draconian constraints on academic freedom.
Professor Ralf Michaels of the Max Planck Institute also spoke out strongly against the new antisemitic resolution, accusing parliamentarians of failing to incorporate scholarly opinions and input throughout the writing process.
Michaels decried efforts to exert political pressure on the academic community and stated that, contrary to its claims, the motion "does not protect the Jews at all," particularly those who oppose Israeli actions.
He stated that "students demonstrating against Israeli policy … are already facing difficulties," and the new resolution limits Jewish students as well.
Not a first
On November 8, 2024, Germany's parliament approved a resolution titled "Never Again is Now: Protecting, Preserving, and Strengthening Jewish Life in Germany," sparking debate over free expression amid heightened tensions surrounding the genocide in Gaza.
The motion, passed with backing from the Social Democrats, CDU-CSU, Greens, and Free Democrats, seeks to cut public funding for groups under allegations of "anti-Semitism", denying "Israel's" right to exist, or calling for the boycott of "Israel".
While the resolution is non-binding, it encourages Germany to continue prioritizing "Israel's" security as a key element of its foreign policy.
It also proposes stricter actions in schools, including expulsion of students involved in "anti-Semitic" incidents. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance opposed the measure, and the Left Party abstained.
Repressing free speech
The resolution has drawn criticism from civil society groups, Jewish intellectuals, and rights advocates, who argue that conflating criticism of "Israel's" policies with anti-Semitism could stifle freedom of speech, academic inquiry, and artistic expression.
In a statement, nearly 100 Jewish artists and scholars in Germany warned the motion could inadvertently harm Jewish life in Germany by associating all Jews with the Israeli regime's actions.
Rights groups expressed similar concerns, noting that equating criticism of "Israel" with anti-Semitism undermines efforts to combat genuine anti-Semitism.
The resolution follows calls from dozens of human rights organizations urging Germany to halt arms supplies to "Israel", which have surged since the start of "Israel's" genocide in Gaza.
Read more: Palestinian factions label Germany as 'Zionist' after FM statement
Germany has consistently been a significant arms supplier to "Israel", ranking as the second-largest exporter after the US.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Germany accounted for 30% of "Israel's" major arms imports between 2019 and 2023.
In 2023, Germany approved arms exports to "Israel" valued at approximately €326.5 million ($353 million), marking a substantial increase compared to previous years.
Data by the German Foreign Ministry revealed that Germany approved over $100 million in military exports to "Israel" since August last year, marking a significant increase following a drop in arms exports earlier.
