Columbia University adopts controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism

The embattled Columbia University in the US announced formally adopting the definition of antisemitism promoted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which classifies criticism of the state of Israel as antisemitic.

A wide description of antisemitism on IHRA's website includes "targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity," and "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, eg, by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour".

In March, the Trump administration issued nine demands to Columbia University before discussing lifting the cancellation of $400m in federal funding, including that the university adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Academics and members of the Jewish community criticised the definition as conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism.