The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) is deeply alarmed by the findings of an independent inquiry into Goldsmiths, University of London, which has revealed a systemic culture of antisemitism on campus dating back years. The report, led by barrister Mohinderpal Sethi KC, lays bare the hostility and exclusion faced by Jewish students and staff, describing how the institution has failed to provide a safe, welcoming environment for members of the Jewish community.
Gary Mond, Chairman of the NJA, said: “The findings at Goldsmiths confirm what many of us have warned about for years: that antisemitism on UK campuses has been permitted to grow under the guise of political activism. It is a disgrace that Jewish students have been made to feel unsafe or unwelcome in our academic institutions. Goldsmiths’ apology is a start, but the real test is whether they will now act with courage. Anything less than permanent cultural reform and a robust disciplinary regime will be an insult to those affected.”
That such overt and pervasive antisemitism has been allowed to fester within a UK university is nothing short of scandalous. The inquiry uncovered instances where Jewish academics were smeared with outrageous accusations, including being labelled “far-right white supremacists,” and where students felt unable to participate freely in campus life due to relentless anti-Israel agitation crossing into outright Jew-hatred. These experiences are sadly not unique to Goldsmiths – they echo the experiences of Jewish students across numerous British campuses where so-called activism increasingly masks bigotry.
The NJA welcomes the university’s decision to initiate a two-year antisemitism action plan. However, statements and apologies are not enough. The only antidote to this toxic culture is swift and decisive action. Antisemitism must be treated with the same zero-tolerance approach as all other forms of racism. That means suspending or expelling individuals who engage in hate speech or targeted harassment, and defending academic freedom without tolerating incitement or discrimination.
Universities must do more to protect Jewish students and staff while preserving the rigorous standards of intellectual inquiry that are the hallmark of higher education. The line between critical debate and hostile prejudice must be clearly drawn – and enforced.
