Why is it so hard for unis to agree on a definition of ‘antisemitism’?

Australian universities will be required to adopt their own definitions of antisemitism starting next year, according to The Conversation. But new federal government rules announced this week create a paradox: they won't have to adopt any specific definition. Multiple competing definitions exist—from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism—each with different strengths and weaknesses. The central tension is where to draw the line between criticism of Israel and antisemitism itself, a disagreement even the Jewish community doesn't resolve internally, and universities must balance protecting students from antisemitism with preserving free speech and academic freedom.

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