The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) has a reputation for smearing supporters of the Palestinians. AUJS is an avowedly Zionist organisation. Though it claims to welcome all Jewish students, its members must agree to “actively promot[e] the interests of Israel”. This is something iterated many times in different ways in the AUJS constitution.
A large part of this active promotion involves attacking the pro-Palestine left, which it claims espouses “modern anti-Semitism”.
Support for Palestine and criticism of the apartheid state of Israel have nothing to do with anti-Semitism. To claim they do is a right wing slur that is losing credibility in wider society.
But AUJS has gained a sympathetic ear from university administrations across Australia, which have repeatedly gone to ridiculous lengths to prosecute baseless accusations against pro-Palestine activists.
Two years ago, a fairly unremarkable bogus accusation was made against a member of Socialist Alternative at Sydney University. What has been remarkable is the dogged way in which the university has pursued this case.
Read the full article by Sarah Garnham at Red Flag.