NEWS RELEASE
Zionist Organization of America
Jacob & Libby Goodman ZOA House, 4 East 34th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016
(212) 481-1500     Fax: (212) 481-1515

April 5, 2006
Contact Morton A. Klein at: www.zoa.org
Attn: NEWS EDITOR


ZOA'S Testimony And Legal Complaint
Help Spur Historic Move


ZOA COMMENDS THE U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR ITS
HISTORIC RECOGNITION THAT JEWISH STUDENTS MUST BE
PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW FROM ANTI-SEMITISM,
INCLUDING ANTI-ZIONISM AND ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIONS

            The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) applauds the historic
findings and recommendations issued on Monday, April 3, 2006, by the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights, to address anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation
and discrimination on U.S. college campuses.  The findings and
recommendations were based in part on the ZOA's testimony at the Commission's
hearing on campus anti-Semitism on November 18, 2005.  At the hearing, Susan
Tuchman, the Director of the ZOA's Center for Law and Justice, urged the
Commission to support an interpretation of Title VI of the federal Civil
Rights Act of 1964 that would protect Jewish college students from
anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation and discrimination.  She described the
ZOA's ongoing complaint against the University of California at Irvine under
Title VI, the first case of anti-Semitism that the Office for Civil Rights
in the U.S. Department of Education has agreed to investigate.

            Based on the information provided at the hearing, the Commission
made the following important findings:



1)     Anti-Semitism on college campuses throughout the U.S. is a serious
problem, and derogatory remarks and using swastikas and other symbols of
hatred or bigotry are among the conduct that could create a hostile
environment for Jewish students in violation of Title VI.

2)     Anti-Israel conduct and anti-Zionism can be an expression of
anti-Semitism.  According to the Commission, "[a]nti-Semitic bigotry is no
less morally deplorable when camouflaged as anti-Israelism or anti-Zionism."

3)     Many Middle East studies departments provide one-sided debate about
Israel, and may also repress legitimate debate.

4)     Many students do not know what rights and protections they have
against anti-Semitic behavior.

5)     The data on campus anti-Semitism that is currently collected by the
U.S. government is insufficient and more data is required to determine the
full scope of the problem.

The Commission made the following significant recommendations:




                                  I.          The Office for Civil Rights
should protect Jewish students from anti-Semitism by vigorously enforcing
Title VI against colleges and universities.  University leadership must
ensure that students are not subjected to a hostile environment engendered
by anti-Semitism.

                                  II.          If there is any question that
Jewish students are protected under Title VI,
      then Congress should amend Title VI to make clear that they are
protected.

                                 III.         Colleges and universities
should ensure that students are protected from actions that could create a
hostile anti-Semitic environment.  "University leadership should set a moral
example" and denounce anti-Semitic and other hate speech.

                                IV.        Colleges and universities should
ensure that all academic departments maintain academic standards and respect
intellectual diversity.  Federal funds should not be used in a way that
supports discriminatory conduct.

                                V.        The Office for Civil Rights should
conduct a public education campaign to inform college students of their
rights under the federal civil rights laws, including that they have the
right to be free from anti-Semitic harassment.  The Commission will support
this campaign by producing and distributing materials to inform students of
their rights.

                                VI.        Congress should direct the U.S.
Department of Education to collect and report additional data on
anti-Semitic and other hate crimes at colleges and universities.

The ZOA specifically urged the Commission to make some of these findings and
recommendations at the hearing last November.  Among other issues, the ZOA
advocated that the Commission acknowledge the seriousness of the anti-Jewish
problem on campus, that the Commission recognize that anti-Zionism and
anti-Israel conduct may be a camouflage for what is in reality
anti-Semitism, and that colleges and universities have a duty to speak out
and condemn hateful speech and conduct against Jews and Israel.

            Susan Tuchman, the Director of the ZOA's Center for Law and
Justice, applauded the Commission's findings and recommendations.  "We are
deeply gratified that the Commission took our concerns seriously and
recognized that Jewish students are facing real problems of anti-Semitism on
their college campuses.  It is so important that the Commission understood
that anti-Zionist propaganda and inaccurate and unbalanced attacks on Israel
are a form of anti-Semitism, and also that the Commission condemned such
conduct.  The Commission's findings and recommendations support our
contention that the anti-Israel divestment campaigns and conferences on
college campuses, which disseminate hateful lies about Israel and Zionism,
contribute to creating a hostile anti-Semitic environment for Jewish
students that may violate Title VI.  The Commission has sent a powerful
message to the public, to the Office for Civil Rights - the agency that
enforces Title VI - and to college and university administrations across the
country:  Jewish students are entitled under the law to an educational
environment that is free from anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation and
discrimination, which includes conduct that demonizes and delegitimizes the
State of Israel.  The officials and administrators of colleges and
universities have an obligation to ensure a hostility-free environment, and
to take a leadership role and speak out against speech and conduct that is
hateful to Jews and to Israel.  The Commission's findings and
recommendations have also sent a strong message to Jewish students on our
campuses that anti-Semitism and anti-Israel conduct need not be tolerated
and that they have legal recourse to fight it.  We anticipate that the
Commission will be issuing a report based on these findings and
recommendations, and expect that it will be submitted to the President and
to Congress.

            "I also want to thank all the students from UC Irvine who have
fully supported the ZOA's legal effort, enabling us to reach this important
milestone.  It's been gratifying to have developed such warm and personal
relationships with these fabulous students who have shown such courage,
commitment and determination."

            Morton A. Klein, the ZOA's National President, praised the
Commission's actions.  "We praise and appreciate not only the Commission's
findings and recommendations, but also its commitment to support a public
relations campaign to inform Jewish college students of their rights under
the federal civil rights laws.  The ZOA intends to be a partner in that
campaign by undertaking its own effort to inform Jewish students and college
and university administrators on campuses across the country that
anti-Semitism is illegal and that students have tools under the law to
combat it.  We will be urging Hillel directors on campuses across the
country to help us get this important message out to the heads of their
respective college and universities and to their Jewish constituents."

           "I also wish to express my sincere thanks to the many outstanding
students at UC/Irvine who I met and worked with after my Israel lecture
there.  Their intelligence, diligence, relentless spirit and love of Israel
always inspired me and gave me great confidence in our Jewish future.  These
students and all the other Irvine students who have been so supportive in
helping us fight against the scourge of anti-Semitism deserve our respect
and admiration."