{"id":167309,"date":"2024-05-02T14:16:52","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T12:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=167309"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:19","slug":"house-of-representatives-deplores-campus-anti-semitism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/05\/02\/house-of-representatives-deplores-campus-anti-semitism\/","title":{"rendered":"House of Representatives deplores campus anti-Semitism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Higher education institutions have to combat displays of anti-Semitism by banning demonstrations and requiring identification on campus, say a majority of the Dutch House.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTessa Hofland<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cI have been hearing for years that Jewish students don\u2019t feel safe at universities and that universities are lax in taking action\u201d, House member Ulysse Ellian (VVD) said in a debate yesterday about anti-Semitism.<\/p>\n

Other MPs agreed. Mirjam Bikker (ChristenUnie) said: \u201cI hear stories about students who don\u2019t wear a kippah<\/em> or a Star of David anymore, who avoid some universities or have dropped out, who are afraid to say they have family in Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the debate went beyond problems in education, it was a major topic. \u201cFor Jewish students to feel ostracised at universities is intolerable\u201d, said Maikel Boon (PVV).<\/p>\n

Poison<\/h2>

\u201cAnti-Semitism is a terrible poison\u201d, agreed Stephan van Baarle (Denk). \u201cHatred and unequal treatment of people merely because they are Jewish must be severely condemned, particularly with the Holocaust as blot in our past. Recent anti-Semitic incidents are unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van Baarle went on to draw attention to Islamophobia and questioned certain parties\u2019 motivations. \u201cAccording to the radical right, anti-Semitism is a logical outgrowth of immigration from Islamic countries. For the PVV, anti-Semitism is just a stick to beat Muslims with.\u201d He underlined that the fight against anti-Semitism must not be equated with the fight for equal rights for Palestinians.<\/p>\n

Differences aside, there was consensus on anti-Semitism. Outgoing minister Robbert Dijkgraaf likewise condemned it in no uncertain terms. \u201cAnti-Semitism is a great evil, and an evil that has lately been rearing its ugly head again. This hurts us all. The number of anti-Semitic incidents is growing in education, too. This pains me deeply and is wholly unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Intimidated<\/h2>

Dijkgraaf has conducted wide-ranging talks with Jewish organisations, schoolchildren, students, teachers and education administrators. \u201cWe were disturbed by the examples shared with us\u201d, he said. \u201cJewish school pupils being taunted, intimidated and greeted with the Hitler salute in the hallways. Teachers having to go through classrooms in the mornings to remove swastikas from desks and whiteboards. And teachers and staff who are afraid to show their Jewish identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The question is what he can do, apart from convene discussions and speak out? \u201cInstitutions are responsible for providing a safe learning and working environment for their students and staff\u201d, the minister pointed out. \u201cThey have security policies to do that. They have their own institutional rules.\u201d He called for an open academic climate \u201cin which students feel free to express themselves, even if their opinions don\u2019t coincide with those of the instructor or majority of students.\u201d<\/p>\n

The parties understood this, but found it rather meagre. Bikker: \u201cI can\u2019t help thinking of the Jewish student who is afraid to go to her graduation ceremony and afraid to attend lectures because she told people her family is in Israel.\u201d What good is a response about institutional rules?<\/p>\n

Maybe institutional rules should be tightened, the minister offered. \u201cAnd, in all fairness, I think institutions are also still searching\u201d.<\/p>\n

Lame<\/h2>

\u201cSearching for what?\u201d scoffed Caroline van der Plas (BBB). \u201cLame\u201d, is how she summed it up. It\u2019s simple, she said: ban those demonstrations. \u201cPut up a poster: no screeching, no shouting, no loud chanting, no face coverings. That will keep them out in the first place. How hard is that? Just tell them to scram!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree with Ms van der Plas one hundred percent\u201d, Dijkgraaf replied. \u201cEradicating anti-Semitism, so not allowing it, is just non-negotiable. It is actually very simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are dealing with a very small population of Jewish students\u201d, observed Frans Timmermans (GroenLinks-PvdA). \u201cThey are particularly vulnerable right now. My assessment is that institutions are not yet sufficiently equipped to contend with this very specific situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, he added, students have a tendency to demonstrate; he did so himself. \u201cAction must be taken if students feel unsafe, but barring discussions and even confrontations at higher education institutions does not seem to me a viable way forward.\u201d Dijkgraaf acknowledged this. \u201cThat\u2019s a different debate \u2013 how to broach fraught issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Motions<\/h2>

So, what did the House of Representatives want? A variety of motions were put forward. Diederik van Dijk (SGP) wanted the government to make agreements with higher education institutions to tighten building access so activists cannot simply walk in.<\/p>\n

The BBB felt institutions should require identification \u201cfor as long as needed\u201d. Students would then have to present their student ID cards \u201cso that individuals who have no affiliation of any sort with the education institution can be refused entry to buildings\u201d.<\/p>\n

The vote was held late Thursday night, just before the House broke for May recess. Both motions passed.<\/p>\n\n\t

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