Opponents of the measure claimed that if passed, it would stifle anti-Israel speech and actions at the school.

(February 20, 2023 / JNS) The student senate at the University of California, Berkeley tabled a measure last week that would have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

The move came after hours of debate about the bill and drew criticism from pro-Israel supporters.

“Defining and recognizing antisemitism and hate is a critical first step toward our collective goal of making UC Berkeley a safer and more inclusive space for Jewish students and all students,” Hillel at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote in a post on social media expressing disappointment with the vote.

It also noted that many students “shared their personal lived experiences with antisemitism and brought their unique perspectives to this very personal issue.”

The Anti-Defamation League tweeted: “Students and communities—inclusive of the Jewish community—that face marginalization, oppression and hate have the right to define for themselves what that looks like.”

Last week’s vote comes some six months after nine student groups at Berkeley School of Law made headlines after announcing they would not invite any speakers who support “Zionism, the apartheid State of Israel and the occupation of Palestine.”

The move led to accusations that the groups were instituting “Jew-free zones,” a claim denied by the school’s dean, Erwin Chermerinsky.

To date, the IHRA definition has been adopted by more than 1,000 entities.