In Canada, UofT removes anti-Zionism group page — Jerusalem Post
In Canada, the University of Toronto removed from its website the page of a new working group at the Jackman Humanities Institute titled “The Convergence of Anti-Zionist Theories.” The initiative for the 2026–2027 academic year drew criticism on social media. The page was removed after the Jackman Humanities Institute and university president Melanie Woodin did not respond to a request from the Jerusalem Post by the time of publication.
The working group’s goal
The working group, led by faculty members and students, raised in its description the question of what it means to criticize Zionism as a political ideology and how “the last three years of genocide in Palestine” have changed scholarly study of the issue. Its goal was to explore different intellectual strands of anti-Zionist thought and develop their critical genealogy.
The description also mentioned a joint University of Toronto and Princeton University conference on anti-Zionist thought, as well as the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism.
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Reaction to the initiative
Criticism intensified after the conference on antisemitism, “The Canary’s Song: Antisemitism in Our Free and Democratic Society,” held on Tuesday. Historian and diplomat Deborah Lipstadt said at the event that anti-Zionism often functions as a substitute for traditional antisemitism, including through the denial of Jewish self-determination and the application of double standards to the Jewish state.
The Network of Engaged Canadian Academics, NECA, questioned the working group’s internal academic review procedure. The organization criticized the reference to “genocide” in Palestine, stating that no authorized court has determined that the war in Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide. NECA also called on the university to examine whether the group’s activities conflict with its rules regarding actions against people who identify as Zionists.
The university’s position
During the conference, Melanie Woodin referred to a new online resource on combating antisemitism at the University of Toronto. It states that members of the university community may criticize political decisions and governments of any country, including Israel. At the same time, actions against people because they are Jewish, Israeli, or identify as Zionists may constitute harassment, discrimination, or violations of laws or internal rules.
