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CASE STUDY
On February 3 , 2016 , Rutgers Associate Professor Jasbir K . Puar delivered a lecture at Vassar College entitled “ Inhumanist Politics : How Palestine Matters .” During her lecture , Professor Puar stated that Israel : is “ harvesting Palestinian organs for scientific research ”; seeks “ perfection of drone technology as a rationalization for the slaughter of Gazans ”; and employs “ maiming as a deliberate biopolitical tactic in the occupation of Palestine .” Because these claims are false , reliant on images steeped in classic antisemitism ( e . g ., Jews as desirous of gentile blood and body parts ), and are directed at demonizing Israel , they likely fit comfortably within the IHRA definition of antisemitism .
Students and alumni responded by writing letters and op-ed pieces , many of which pointed out the ways in which Puar ’ s claims and rhetoric moved beyond mere criticism of Israel into identifiable antisemitism . The response drew national media attention , much of which recognized Puar ’ s rhetoric for its antisemitism . For example , the Wall Street Journal published an editorial on February 17 , 2016 entitled “ Majoring in Antisemitism at Vassar .”