On June 10, 2020, I participated in an online debate. It was organized by Ryerson University’s Centre for Free Expression (CFE) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA). The debate was entitled, “Fighting Anti-Semitism or Silencing Critics of Israel: What’s Behind the Push for Governments to Adopt the IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism?”.

The debate was purposefully produced in the spirit of free expression and open dialogue. Two panelists, myself included, argued that the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition does risk silencing critics of Israel. Two other panelists argued that it doesn’t. I was the only panelist who was not Jewish.

Two weeks later, based on comments I made on the panel, I became the target of a national petition calling on my employer, York University, to ban me from teaching human rights. The petition was part of a smear campaign initiated by B’nai Brith Canada, designed to falsely make me look like an antisemite.

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