Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) has denounced Rutgers University faculty unions for voting to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions resolution earlier this month.
The resolution adopted by the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union and the Rutgers American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers was antisemitic and called for a state university to divest and cut academic affiliations from a key democratic ally, he said last Friday.
“While I am a strong supporter of free speech and free expression, I strongly condemn hatred and antisemitism,” Gottheimer said. “The hate-motivated, antisemitic BDS movement calls for the eradication of the democratic State of Israel, America’s key ally. It is unacceptable and has no place on college campuses or in our country – especially at Rutgers.
In fact, under New Jersey state law, it is illegal for New Jersey state pension and annuity funds to invest in companies that boycott Israel or Israeli businesses. I urge Rutgers University to immediately and publicly reject this harmful resolution and reaffirm its commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students and faculty.”
The vote was another example of antisemitism on the campus, he said, adding that a Rutgers professor who was reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency to have shared an antisemitic social-media post in 2017 was affiliated with one of the unions.
JTA reported that Prof. Michael Chikindas had shared a Facebook post featuring derogatory Jewish stereotypes behind ills afflicting America. Rutgers denounced Chikindas at the time.
The unions announced the result of the vote on December 13, saying that 58% had voted in favor of the resolution. Voting began on November 11 and ended on November 22.
Details of the resolution
The resolution, which reiterated claims that the State of Israel was engaged in apartheid, ethnic cleansing, “scholasticide,” and genocide, called for the divestment of the university’s endowment from companies and organizations connected 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 State of Israel bonds in the future.
The unions demanded that a 2021 memorandum of agreement with Tel Aviv University regarding the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Hub be suspended.
Like many US universities, Rutgers has had mass anti-Israel activism and protests on its campus since the October 7 massacre.
In May, Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway testified before the US House Committee on Education and the Workforce, detailing 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 he would not continue as president in the coming 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 chants.
In a recent statement, Congressman Josh Gottheimer criticized Rutgers University for passing a resolution in support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Gottheimer, who represents New Jersey’s 5th congressional district, called the resolution “dangerous and divisive” and urged the university to reconsider its decision.
The BDS movement aims to put economic and political pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories and grant equal rights to Palestinian citizens. However, critics like Gottheimer argue that BDS unfairly targets Israel and is counterproductive to achieving peace in the region.
Gottheimer, who is a strong supporter of Israel, believes that Rutgers’ endorsement of BDS sends a harmful message and undermines efforts to promote dialogue and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. He has called on university leaders to reject the resolution and instead work towards fostering a more constructive and inclusive campus environment.
It remains to be seen how Rutgers University will respond to Gottheimer’s criticism and whether they will reconsider their support for the BDS movement. In the meantime, the debate over the resolution continues to spark controversy and ignite discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on campus.
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