Labour was last night facing a backlash from Britain's largest teaching union over its review into anti-Semitism in schools.
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Labour → face → schools
The National Education Union (NEU) accused the Government of taking the 'wrong approach' by asking all schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.
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Union → accuse → Semitism
General secretary Daniel Kebede said while anti-Semitism 'is on a steep rise and must be tackled', the measure would have a 'chilling' effect and 'shut down legitimate discussion'.
It was one of 27 recommendations in a Labour-commissioned report into anti-Semitism, with the Government pledging today to accept them all in full.
The IHRA definition says that as well as 'hatred of Jews', anti-Semitism can also include 'targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity' – unless the criticism is 'similar to that levelled against any other country'.
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criticism → say → country
It also includes 11 examples of antisemitism, some of which are to do with Israel.
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some → include → Israel
Mr Kebede, whose union has half a million members, said: 'The IHRA's contested framing risks blurring the line between anti-Semitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and the genocide in Gaza…
'
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framing → have → Gaza
Schools must enable young people to confront difficult issues openly and develop empathy, not drive teachers into silence or leave pupils afraid to express their views.'
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Schools → enable → views
He added that it risks children who 'cannot critically explore issues' in the classroom 'seeking their answers in online and unsafe groups'.
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who → add → groups
Labour was last night facing a backlash from Britain's largest teaching union over its review into anti-Semitism in schools.
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Labour → face → schools
And he said that the review's recommendations also 'wrongly call into question the professionalism of teachers'.
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recommendations → say → teachers
The independent review by Sir David Bell, published today, also recommended embedding anti-Semitism into safeguarding policies, training teachers and instructing Ofsted to hold schools to account on it.
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review → publish → it
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: 'The NEU's response is pathetic.
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response → say → ?
To portray the adoption of the IHRA definition as chilling debate on Gaza shows a staggering lack of understanding for the fear Jewish people in this country are living with.'
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people → portray → country
She added that the review did not go far enough in holding teaching unions to account on anti-Semitism.
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review → add → Semitism
The review points out that while unions have made some Jewish members feel that 'their concerns are not taken seriously', they are not 'inherently anti-Semitic'.
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they → point → ?
And it recommends unions should have 'robust policies and processes to tackle anti-Semitism'.
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unions → recommend → Semitism
Ms Trott referred to the case of NEU members 'pressuring' Bristol Brunel Academy to cancel a visit by Damien Egan, a Jewish MP and vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel, last year.
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members → refer → Israel
At the time, the school said the visit had been cancelled for safety reasons due to protests planned outside the school.
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visit → say → school
The National Education Union (NEU) accused the Government of taking the 'wrong approach' by asking all schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.
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Union → accuse → Semitism
Ms Trott pointed out that one of those identified as taking part is still in her post.
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one → point → post
'The Bell Review is welcome, but unions are being left with a free pass to mark their own homework,' she added.
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she → leave → homework
'Without real accountability, nothing will change.'
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nothing → change → accountability
Responding to Ms Trott, Mr Kebede said a separate independent review of the NEU took place this year by Karon Monaghan KC which concluded there was no evidence of systemic anti-Semitism in the union.
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which → respond → union
'The NEU has a zero tolerance on anti-Semitism and all forms of racism,' he said.
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he → have → racism
Today's review, which found three in five Jewish pupils have experienced anti-Semitism, was unveiled by Education Secretary Lucy Powell in Parliament.
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pupils → find → Parliament
She said children and teachers should be able to go to school or college 'free from fear', and added tackling anti-Semitism is a 'generational challenge'.
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tackling → say → Semitism
She warned that anti-Semitism is 'normalised and amplified' on social media and 'old tropes' have found a 'new life' online.
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tropes → warn → life
She added: 'Implementation is now my priority.
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Implementation → add → ?
I will make sure schools and colleges are better equipped to spot, challenge and prevent anti-Semitism wherever it happens.'
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it → make → Semitism
The Aporia
