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The Yale Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Antisemitism
Newsletter
Volume 3 No. 11
30 January 2009

YIISA NOW ACCEPTING POST-DOCTORATE & GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS
YIISA invites applications for available post-doctorate research fellowships and graduate fellows in the final stages of their PhDs commencing in September 2009, tenable for one year, with possible renewal for one further academic year. Applications are welcome from candidates from all academic disciplines, with a strong background in the study of antisemitism and related fields. The goal of the fellowship is to support the work of emerging leading scholars whose research is focused on the study of antisemitism and to devote their efforts to further their research agenda and professional development generally.
DEADLINE: Monday, February 16, 2009
Click here for more information and post in the Chronicle for Higher Education

YIISA DIRECTOR, CHARLES SMALL, TO LECTURE AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Sunday, February 1st from 4:00pm – 6:00pm
“The Social Construction of the Other:  The Iranian Regime and the Possibility of Negotiations”
Tel Aviv University, Gilman Building, Room 133
Speaker:         Charles Small, YIISA Director
Sponsor:         The Center for Iranian Studies, Tel Aviv University/Iran Forum
Contact:         irancen@post.tau.ac.il
Please click here for more information      

YIISA SPECIAL EVENT
The Second Annual Professor William Prusoff Honorary Lecture:  Benny Morris
Tuesday, February 3rd
“1948 as Jihad”
Reception:      6:00pm – 6:45pm @ ISPS, 77 Prospect Street, Common Room
Lecture:          7:00pm @ Luce Auditorium, 34 Hillhouse Avenue
Speaker:         Benny Morris, Professor and Historian, Ben Gurion University, Be’er Sheva
*Please RSVP to yiisa.program@yale.edu for the reception by Friday, January 30th*

YIISA LECTURE
Wednesday, February 4th @ 12:00noon
“Islamism, Genocidal Antisemitism and the Place of the Other”
Location:        Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Avenue, Room 202
Speaker:         Dr. Mordechai Kedar, Lecturer, Department of Arabic, the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
*Lunch will be provided – please RSVP to yiisa.program@yale.edu by Monday, Feb. 2nd*           

Thursday, February 5th @ 4:15pm
“Nazi Propaganda in and towards the Middle East during World War II and the Holocaust”
Location:        ISPS, 77 Prospect Street, Room A-002
Speaker:         Jeffrey Herf, Professor, Department of History, University of Maryland    

LECTURES OF INTEREST
Friday, January 30th; Saturday, January 31st; Sunday February 1st from 8:45am – 6:00pm
“Rethinking Development:  Societal Transformations and the Challenges of Governance in Africa and the Middle East”
Luce Hall, Auditorium, 34 Hillhouse Avenue
Sponsor:         Council on Middle East Studies/Council on African Studies
Contact:         Ellen Lust-Okar – ellen.lust-okar@yale.edu
Please click here for more information

Sunday, February 1st @ 4:00pm
“Palestinian Issues in Israeli Journalism”
Slifka Center, 80 Wall Street, Second Floor
Speaker:         Khalid Abu Toameh
Sponsor:         CAMERA – Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, Legacy Heritage Fund
Contact:         Shira Winter – shira.winter@yale.edu
Please click here for more information

Wednesday, February 4th @ 4:00pm
“Myth, History and Prophecy in Christian-Jewish Relations”
Slifka Center, 80 Wall Street
Speaker:         Jeremy Cohen, Tel Aviv University
Sponsor:         Program in Judaic Studies/Depart. of Religious Studies/Slifka Center
Contact:         Renee Reed – renee.reed@yale.edu
Please click here for more information

Friday, February 6th @ 9:30am
“The Pursuit of International Criminal Justice:  The Case of Darfur”
Sterling Law Buildings, 127 Wall Street
Keynote Speaker:      Luis Moreno Ocampo, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
Sponsors:                   Orville H. Schell Jr. Center for International Human Rights, Law School/John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Contact:                     Pascale Mathieu - pascale.mathieu@yale.edu
Please click here for more information

SPECIAL ARTICLE OF INTEREST

Revealed: the letter Obama team hope will heal Iran rift
(Guardian) Officials of Barack Obama's administration have drafted a letter to Iran from the president aimed at unfreezing US-Iranian relations and opening the way for face-to-face talks.
Click here to read

Full text of President Obama's interview with Al-Arabiya Arab TV Network
Click here to read

Middle East Envoy Urges 'Lasting Peace'
(Washington Post) Arriving in Israel for his first visit as the Obama administration's Middle East envoy, former senator George J. Mitchell called for a halt to weapons smuggling and for the territory's border crossings to be opened.
Click here to read

IRAN

Iran tells U.S. to show change in policy not tactics
(Reuters) Iran said on Wednesday it would welcome President Barack Obama's offer of a change in U.S. policy provided it involved a withdrawal of U.S. troops from abroad and an apology for past "crimes" against Tehran.
Click here to read

Iran could have ability to build nuclear bomb by 2010, study warns
(Telegraph) The International Institute for Strategic Studies has said Iran is months away from crossing a vital threshold which could put it on course to build a weapon.
Click here to read

Iran in scramble for fresh uranium supplies
(Times) Western powers believe that Iran is running short of the raw material required to manufacture nuclear weapons, triggering an international race to prevent it from importing more, The Times has learnt.
Click here to read

Netanyahu to WEF: Iranian nuclear threat trumps global economy
(Jerusalem Post) Keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons ranks above the economy in the challenges facing the leaders of the 21st century, Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu told the World Economic Forum on Thursday.
Click here to read

EU takes Iran opposition group off terror list
(Reuters) The EU agreed to remove the exiled Iranian opposition group that exposed Tehran's covert nuclear programme in 2002 from a list of banned terrorist organisations.
Click here to read

Egypt Critical of Iran and allies in Arab world
(Reuters) Egypt aired its grievances against Iran, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah, saying they worked together in the fighting over Gaza to provoke conflict in the Middle East.
Click here to read

Germany cracks down on exports to Iran
(Financial Times) The German government has put an almost complete stop on federal export credit guarantees for domestic companies wanting to do business with Iran.
Click here to read

Activists demand Siemens halt Iran trade
(Jerusalem Post) Pro-Israel activists distributed at the start of the Siemens annual stockholder meeting in Munich on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, calling for the company to stop its business dealings with Iran.
Click here to read
           
Iran honors murderer Samir Kuntar
(YNet) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad awarded murderer Samir Kuntar an honorary statuette Thursday during a ceremony in honor of former political prisoners from Iran and the world.
Click here to read

MIDDLE EAST

Elie Wiesel attacks pope over Holocaust bishop
(Reuters) Pope Benedict has given credence to "the most vulgar aspect of antisemitism" by rehabilitating a Holocaust-denying bishop, said Elie Wiesel.
Click here to read

Rabbinate cuts ties with Vatican
(YNet) The Chief Rabbinate of Israel cut ties with the Vatican over pardon of Holocaust denier until apology is made, Vatican's position clarified. Survivor Eli Wiesel also comes out against pontiff's pardon of known Holocaust denying bishop, says slight may even have been 'intentional.' Pope reaffirms 'solidarity' with Jewish people
Click here to read

Vatican is unflinching on Holocaust-denier
(LA Times) Reporting from Los Angeles and Madrid -- The Vatican stood firm Tuesday on a decision to rehabilitate a Holocaust-denying bishop, even as Jewish leaders warned that the move will set back decades of Roman Catholic overtures to mend strained relations between the two faiths.
Click here to read

An antisemite is an anti-Semite, and shouldn't be embraced by the Pope
(National Post) For all that has been written this week about Richard Williamson, and for all the explanations being offered as to why he was let back into the fold as a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, there is still no explanation that makes sense.
Click here to read
Click here to watch related video

Anti-Israel vs. antisemite
(Chicago Tribune) Why can't one be against Israel without actually hating Jews? In principle, the argument makes sense, but over the years I've seldom found someone who is anti-Israel but at the same time likes Jews.
Click here to read

Do Palestinians Really Want a Two-State Solution?
(Wall Street Journal) Josef Joffe writes that Palestine wants a one-state from the "river to the sea," with eliminationist antisemitic tones.
Click here to read

Solana softens policy towards Hamas
(Jerusalem Post) In a sign that the international community's position on Hamas is weakening, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana would not say unequivocally that the EU should stick with the three preconditions it set for talking with the Islamist group.
Click here to read

PLO Executive Committee Secretary Yasser Abd Rabbo Accuses Hamas of New Atrocities Against Fatah Members in Gaza
Click here for video

Hamas executes former B'tselem field worker
(Jerusalem Post) A Palestinian human rights activist and journalist who used to work for the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem has been executed by Hamas.
Click here to read

Venezuela calls Israeli leaders 'criminals'
(YNet) Venezuela's government said it is proud of that Israel has expelled its ambassador, calling Israel's leaders criminals while denying allegations of antisemitism at home.
Click here to read

'Erdogan's remarks aid antisemitism'
(Jerusalem Post) A senior Israeli official said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is encouraging expressions of antisemitism in his country by espousing biased views and wholeheartedly accepting the Hamas narrative of the recent Gaza fighting.
Click here to read

Turkish president walks off stage over Gaza
(YNet) At Economic Forum in Davos, Erdogan tells Peres 'you are killing people'; Israeli president responds: You would do the same if rockets would fall on Istanbul
Click here to read

AFRICA

South Africa Jews slam deputy FM's anti-Semitic comments
(Haaretz) South Africa's Jewish community lodged a complaint of hate speech against the country's deputy foreign minister, who earlier this month said that "Jewish money controls America and most Western countries."
Click here to read

Storm over deputy minister’s ‘antisemitic’ gibe
(Business Day) The South African Jewish Board of Deputies yesterday laid a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against Deputy Foreign Minister Fatima Hajaig for “antisemitic hate speech”.
Click here to read

The ANC and Antisemitism
(Politics Web) Paul Trewhela writes that deputy minister Fatima Hajaig has betrayed a long and honourable tradition.
Click here to read

Antisemitic remarks stop Palestine conference
(SMH) A conference on justice for Palestine due to be held tomorrow at State Parliament has been called off after several high-profile speakers withdrew from the event, citing revelations the convener had made antisemitic remarks.
Click here to read

EUROPE

'Massive Hezbollah attack against Israeli target thwarted in Europe'
(Haaretz) The attack, linked to the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, was foiled thanks to intelligence sharing between Israel and an undisclosed European country.
Click here to read

Gaza drives a wedge in Paris imam's dialogue with Jews
(Christian Science Monitor) there's concern that hatred fanned by Middle East politics could get more toxic among Arabs and Jews in France.
Click here to read
           
German Jews boycott Shoah service in protest of antisemitism
(YNet) Community leaders refuse to attend Berlin ceremony marking International Holocaust Memorial Day due to organizers' failure to acknowledge survivors present at event, as well as sense of growing antisemitism in country in recent years
Click here to read

End the Holocaust Memorials
(Wall Street Journal) “The ceremonies have become a substitute for acting against modern fascists.”
Click here to read

On the London Stage, New Depiction Of Fagin Revives an Old Stereotype
(Jewish Daily Forward) A loud debate has erupted about whether it remains acceptable to revive Fagin, the Jewish street thief immortalized in print by Charles Dickens in the musical “Oliver!”
Click here to read

NORTH AMERICA

For first time, U.S. professors call for academic and cultural boycott of Israel
(Haaretz) In the wake of Operation Cast Lead, a group of American university professors has launched a national campaign calling for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel.
Click here to read

MISCELLANEOUS

UN chief calls on world to fight Holocaust denial, antisemitism, bigotry
(Xinhua) More than six decades after the Holocaust, it is more vital than ever to learn from the tragedy to prevent further atrocities, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Tuesday.
Click here to read

Rise of antisemitic incidents in Latin America troubling
(Miami Herald) There is a rise in antisemitic incidents in Latin America in the aftermath of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza -- and the most troublesome part of it is that it's often fueled by racist propaganda in state-sponsored media.
Click here to read

WEEKLY QUOTES (Source: Canadian Institute for Jewish Research, Montreal)
 
“[M]y job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries…. And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives.  My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy….

“[W]hat you will see over the next several years is that I'm not going to agree with everything that some Muslim leader may say, or what's on a television station in the Arab world ­but I think that what you'll see is somebody who is listening, who is respectful, and who is trying to promote the interests not just of the United States, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity.”­ President Barack Obama, in his first interview since taking office, discussing his Administration’s goals with the Dubai-based Arab satellite station Al Arabiya. On the subject of the Palestinian-Israeli Peace process Obama said: “Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel's security is paramount. But I also believe that there are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side.”  When asked specifically about Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions the President said: “Iran has acted in ways that's not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel; their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe; their support of terrorist organizations in the past­none of these things have been helpful. But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran.…  And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.” (Alarabiya.net, Jan. 27)

 “Those who say they want to make change, this is the change they should make: they should apologize to the Iranian nation and try to make up for their dark background and the crimes they have committed against the Iranian nation.”­ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, responding to President Obama's offer to extend a hand of peace to Iran. Ahmadinejad, speaking at a rally in western Iran, listed a range of U.S. "crimes" such as trying to block Teheran's nuclear program, hindering Iran's development, and other alleged actions by several administrations for more than 60 years. According to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, Iran is months away from crossing the developmental threshold that could put it on course to build a nuclear weapon by 2010. (Reuters, Daily Telegraph-UK, Jan. 28)
 
“Breaking the lock on the Holocaust box and opening it is tantamount to cutting the Zionist regime's life jugular and the bulk of the [Zionist] philosophy would collapse.”­ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, launching a new verbal attack on Israel on Tuesday, in a message read at the Sharif Technical University conference called “Holocaust, the West's sacred lie”. Ahmadinejad’s statement alleged that the subject of the Holocaust had been used to expand the international influence of the United States and Britain after World War Two and that “power-seeking networks introduced themselves as defenders of a number of victims and issued an order that the survivors...must receive blood money, part of which was the establishment of the Zionist regime on Palestinian territory.” Ahmadinejad caused international outrage in 2005, when he stated that Israel should be wiped off the map, and in 2006, for staging a Teheran conference that sought to cast doubt on the Holocaust. (Ha’aretz, Jan. 27)

“We have the responsibility not to allow genocide of the Jewish people, nor of any other people. We have the responsibility to learn and to teach the lessons of the Holocaust, to prevent it from ever reoccurring. We have the responsibility not to remain silent. For, to remain silent and indifferent to the horrors of the Holocaust is probably the greatest sin of all, let alone denying it….  We have the responsibility to act against the forces of anti-Semitism, bigotry, and racism in any form.” ­Professor Gabriela Shalev, Israel's ambassador to the UN, speaking at the UN ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. UN General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, a Catholic Priest from Nicaragua, skipped the UN ceremony after American Jewish leaders and Amb. Shalev threatened to demonstratively exit the event if he used the podium to attack Israel. D'Escoto, who has repeatedly made anti-Israel statements, was to be the event's host by virtue of his official position and was scheduled give the opening speech. (Ha’aretz, Jan. 27)
 
“Hamas has an enormous responsibility for what happened here in Gaza…. I intentionally say this here: Hamas is a terrorist movement and it has to be denounced as such.” ­EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel, condemning Hamas for using civilians as human shields and fighting in populated areas. Michel described Hamas rocket fire as a provocation. (Jerusalem Post, Ha’aretz, Jan. 26)

“We don’t want to go on to reconstruct Gaza every I-don’t-know-how-many-years. This is not what we want…  [The Palestinian] population has to decide if it wants…peace.”­ Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU External Relations Commissioner, insisting that while she expected humanitarian aid to Gaza to flow quickly, the Gaza reconstruction would only begin when the EU had an acceptable Palestinian partner.(Jerusalem Post, Ha’aretz, Jan. 26)

 “You probably hear of many antisemitic incidents, but where we live, the antisemitism is sanctioned; it comes from the president, through the government, and into the media. Since the government is very involved in the day-to-day lives of its constituents, its influence is much more effective.”­Abraham Levy Ben Shimol, president of the Jewish community in Venezuela, explaining the difficult situation for Jews under President Hugo Chavez. (Ha’aretz, Jan. 26)

“[W]hile the Vatican's reconciliation with the SSPX [Society of Saint Pius X] is an internal matter of the Catholic Church, the embrace of an open Holocaust denier is shameful, a serious blow for Jewish-Vatican relations, and a slap in the face for the historic efforts of Pope John Paul II, who following his predecessors, made such remarkable efforts to eradicate and combat antisemitism. I am sure that the lifting of the excommunication was not an affirmation by the Church of Holocaust denial. However, the failure to take into consideration his outrageous opinions is deplorable. Williamson should not have been included in this embrace.” ­American Jewish Committee director of Interreligious Affairs, Rabbi David Rosen, commenting on the lifting of the excommunication of four bishops, including British Holocaust denier Richard Williamson. The Society of Saint Pius X rejects the reforms of the 1965 Second Vatican Council. Shimon Samuels of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Paris understood Pope Benedict XVI’s desire for Christian unity, but thought that the pope could have excluded Williamson, saying that “I’m certain as a man who has known the Nazi regime in his own flesh, he understands you have to be very careful and very selective.” (Jer. Post, Jan. 25)
SHORT TAKES
HAMAS REGAINS CONTROL OF ALL GAZA TUNNELS­(Jerusalem) Hamas is once again in control of the remaining smuggling tunnels between Egypt and Gaza, according to the Jerusalem Post. During Operation Cast Lead the IDF destroyed about 80 percent of Hamas’ tunnel networks, with the remainder intentionally left undisturbed amid humanitarian and security concerns. “Bringing arms into Gaza is not smuggling. The natural situation would be for all Arab and Muslim countries, along with the rest of the free world, to officially allow weapons into the Strip... Meanwhile, we believe it is our right to bring arms in any way we see fit,” Abu Obaida, Hamas spokesman, told reporters. (Jer. Post, Jan. 19, 22)

 ARMS SHIPMENTS TO GAZA INTERCEPTED­(Jerusalem) On Jan. 21 the U.S Navy intercepted an Iranian ship in the Red Sea carrying weapons intended for Gaza, raising Israeli fears of that Hamas will eventually obtain long-range Fajr missiles that can strike Tel Aviv. The Iranian-owned commercial vessel with a Cypriot flag was boarded and found to be carrying artillery shells. The ship was permitted to sail toward the Suez Canal, where Egyptian authorities will search the vessel again. “This is a big test for the Egyptians,” a senior U.S. defense official said. “So far the Egyptians have prevented the ship from crossing the Suez and we hope it will stay that way.” (Jer. Post, Jan. 25, 26)

 HAMAS CRACKS DOWN ON FATAH­(Jerusalem) Fatah members reported that immediately after the ceasefire took effect on Jan.18, Hamas began conducting raids on the rival Palestinian faction, which included torturing and murdering Fatah individuals who allegedly collaborated with Israel. Hamas recently executed a Palestinian field worker Haidar Shanem, 46, who had been condemned to death by a Palestinian Authority court for being a Shin Bet agent, but whose sentence had not previously been carried out because of pressure from human rights group. Shanem worked for the Israeli human rights organization B’tselem. (Jer. Post, Jan 19, 25)

 HAMAS DOLING OUT CASH TO GAZANS­(Jerusalem) Hamas has begun to distribute money to families whose homes were destroyed in Operation Cast Lead. On January 22 Hamas promised to distribute $35 million to $40 million in reconstruction money. They said that each family whose home had been destroyed would receive roughly $5,200, half-damaged homes would receive $2,600, families of people who died in the latest Gaza operation would receive $1,300, and injured people would get $650. As of January 25, only payments of $1000 have been given out to claimants with Hamas saying it needs more time. Israel, concerned that Hamas is attempting to take credit for the reconstruction efforts in the same manner as Hezbollah in the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon War, is working with the West Bank Palestinian Authority and international community to find ways of transferring aid money into Gaza. (New York Times, Jan. 23; Reuters, Jan. 26)

 BBC WON’T BROADCAST GAZA APPEAL­(London) Citing a journalistic duty to cover the Gaza conflict in a balanced manner, the British Broadcasting Corporation has refused to air a three-minute Gaza appeal for funding prepared by the Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella organization representing eleven relief agencies. The BBC does not accept advertising but has been known in the past to broadcast appeals for other humanitarian causes. Sky News, a privately-owned independent broadcaster, also decided to not air the appeal. Three other broadcasters, the publicly-owned Channel 4, and private broadcasters, ITV and Channel 5, have shown the appeal. (New York Times, Jan. 27; Jer. Post, Jan. 26)
 

JEWISH AGENCY REPORTS RISE IN ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS ­(Jerusalem) The Jewish Agency reported Sunday that 250 confirmed antisemitic attacks were carried out worldwide during Israel’s three-week military operation against Hamas in Gaza in January 2009, compared to 80 reported attacks in January 2008. Incidents in France included the stabbing of a Jewish man outside of Paris and two firebombings of synagogues in Saint Denis; in Sweden, a burning object was thrown through a window of a synagogue; in Chicago, on the third day of the Israeli operation, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Temple Sholom, and on Jan. 10 four more synagogues were vandalised; in Malibu, California windows were shattered and swastikas painted Jewish Center and Synagogue. (Ha’aretz, Jan 25; Jer. Post, Jan.11)

 ARAB REPAYMENT FOR JEWISH PROPERTY­ (Jerusalem) The Israeli Pensioners Affairs Ministry has created a new department over the past two weeks that will begin to collect specific claims by Jews who lost their property when they left Arab countries during the 20th century. More than 850,000 Jews fled or were expelled from Arab lands and Iran, most after Israel's founding in 1948. Estimates of the value of the property they were forced to leave behind are hard to come by, ranging from as low as $16 billion in known assets to as high as $300 billion when estimates of the value of their abandoned real estate are included. (Jer. Post, Jan. 27)

 EX-JIHADIS RETURN TO TERROR ­(Riyadh) The Saudi Interior Ministry acknowledged failures with its rehabilitation program for former jihadists following the arrests of nine graduates for rejoining terrorist organisations. The program of religious re-education and therapy is designed to assist the former jihadists with reintegrating into their families and jobs. The confession, after an announcement that two other alumni had joined al Qaeda in Yemen, raised concerns over how Saudi officials had lost track of them in the first place. Some of them are released Guantanamo captives, including one suspected of a deadly attack in Yemen last year. (NYT, Jan. 27)

 WILDERS TO BE PROSECUTED FOR INCITING HATE­(The Hague) Before drawing international attention last year for his film Fitna, Geert Wilders,  the Netherlands’ right-wing Freedom Party leader, called for a ban on the Qu’ran “the same way we ban Mein Kampf ”, since both Hitler's work and the Muslim holy book contain passages that contradict Western values. The Amsterdam Appeals Court called the statements in his film, newspaper articles and media interviews "one-sided generalizations...which can amount to inciting hatred", reversing a decision last year by the public prosecutor's office that the film and interviews were painful for Muslims but not criminal. Wilders will appeal the judgment. (International Herald Tribune, Jan. 21)

 YORK STUDENTS CONDEMN ISRAEL­(Toronto) Last week, Jewish students descended on the Toronto campus to protest the misdirected priorities of their student government (the York Federation of Students) who, in the midst of a twelve-week labour dispute that has ended classes at York University, unanimously resolved to “issue a public statement of its condemnation” of Israel’s operation in Gaza and issued a proposal to ban Israeli academics on Ontario campuses. (Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, Jan. 22)

Yale Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Antisemitism | ISPS | yiisa.program@yale.edu