The University of Edinburgh is considering abandoning an internationally recognised definition of antisemitism and launching a divestment drive targeting companies allegedly linked to human rights violations in Israel. The moves follow a report examining the institution's historical ties to colonialism and slavery, which recommended both steps.
The report focuses on the legacy of the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which backed a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Arthur James Balfour, the declaration's author, served as the university's chancellor from 1891 to 1930. The document argues he played a "unique role" in establishing imperial and settler-colonial rule in Palestine, resulting in what it describes as one of the longest-standing colonial occupations and apartheid regimes in modern history.
Sir Peter Mathieson, the university's principal, said the definition of antisemitism adopted from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) was a "hot topic" and "contentious". He noted there was no unanimity of view, with some Jewish people finding it helpful and others unhelpful. He also confirmed the creation of a "responsible investment group" to review holdings, including investments in companies allegedly supporting Israel.
The review comes after months of campus activism. Around 200 students staged protests at 24 graduation ceremonies this year, some directly accusing Mathieson of complicity in the Gaza crisis, while last year students occupied the university's Old College quadrangle. The report's authors, Nicola Perugini and Shaira Vadasaria, both academics at Edinburgh and former teachers at al-Quds University, said the decision to include Balfour's legacy was a "direct response" to pressure from protests over the Gaza war.
The Balfour Declaration stated that the British government viewed with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, while ensuring nothing would prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities. The report also recommends establishing a Palestine Studies Centre and offering scholarships to students of Palestinian origin.
