Josh Gottheimer criticizes Rutgers University BDS resolution

On By Littum

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) has condemned Rutgers University faculty unions for voting to pass a boycott, divestment and sanctions resolution earlier this month.

The resolution passed by the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union and the Rutgers American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers was anti-Semitic and called on a state university to divest and cut academic affiliations from a key Democratic ally, he said Friday.

“While I am a strong supporter of free speech and expression, I strongly condemn hatred and anti-Semitism,” Gottheimer said. “The hate-motivated, anti-Semitic BDS movement calls for the eradication of the democratic state of Israel, America’s most important ally. It is unacceptable and has no place on college campuses or in our country — especially at Rutgers.

In fact, according to the state of New Jersey, it is illegal for New Jersey state pension and annuity funds to invest in companies that boycott Israel or Israeli companies. I call on Rutgers University to immediately and publicly repudiate this harmful decision and reaffirm its commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students and faculty.”

The vote was another example of anti-Semitism on campus, he said, adding that a Rutgers professor who was reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency for sharing an anti-Semitic post on social media in 2017 was affiliated with one of the unions.

People look at a BDS stand with photos and Palestinian flags calling for ‘Free Palestine’ at Dam Square in central Amterdam, the Netherlands, on June 24, 2016. Photo by Hadas Parush/Flash90 (Credit: HADAS PARUSH/FLASH90 )

JTA reported that Prof. Michael Chikindas had shared a Facebook post disparaging Jewish stereotypes behind ills afflicting America. Rutgers denounced Chikindas at the time.

The unions announced the result of the vote on 13 December, saying 58% had voted in favor of the decision. Voting began on November 11 and ended on November 22.

Details of the decision

The resolution, which reiterated allegations that the State of Israel was engaged in apartheid, ethnic cleansing, “scholasticism” and genocide, called for the divestment of the university’s endowments from companies and organizations associated with the Israeli government’s alleged crimes. It called for a review of investments to identify and terminate them. The university was also requested not to invest in government bonds in the future.

The unions demanded that a 2021 memorandum of understanding with Tel Aviv University regarding the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Hub be suspended.

Like many American universities, Rutgers has had a lot of anti-Israel activism and protests on its campus since the October 7 massacre.

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In May, Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, describing how he addressed the 72-hour encampment on his institution’s grounds and developed a relationship with TAU.

In April, Holloway, who announced in September that he would not continue as president for the upcoming academic year, fled a Rutgers University Student Assembly town hall after pro-Palestinian students disrupted and hijacked the meeting with pro-terrorism and anti-Israel exclamation.