Peter Beinart with Dylan Saba & Ethan Katz on the Controversy About Zionist Speakers at Berkeley Law

Quick Overview

The controversy at Berkeley Law centers on student groups adopting a bylaw to exclude Zionist speakers, which supporters like Dylan Saba view as a necessary act of political expression and solidarity for Palestinian liberation, while critics like Ethan Katz argue it is an extreme, discriminatory position that excludes Jewish students and hinders productive dialogue on campus.

Key Points: Student groups at Berkeley Law, led by Law Students for Justice in Palestine, adopted a bylaw stating they "will not invite speakers that have expressed and continue to hold views in support of Zionism the apartheid state of Israel and the occupation of Palestine." Dylan Saba supports the bylaw as an "active political expression" and a non-violent resistance strategy to advance Palestinian demands, including ending occupation, ensuring equal rights, and recognizing the right of return. Saba argues that the bylaw aims to challenge the "passive definition of Zionism" and that making Zionists uncomfortable is a necessary outcome of advocating for Palestinian liberation, prioritizing structural change over campus comfort. Ethan Katz contends the bylaw's language is "extreme" and mischaracterizes Zionism, which for millions of Jews is a National Liberation movement for collective rights and security. Katz states the bylaw has a discriminatory impact, making a "very high percentage of the Jewish students at the law school" feel excluded from clubs they previously joined, despite some attempting to offer alternative bylaws supporting Palestinian rights. The debate highlights a fundamental disagreement on strategy: Saba believes direct political action and challenging Zionist identity are crucial for change, while Katz advocates for mutual recognition and open dialogue to foster productive conversations on campus. Katz notes that even the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, often supported by BDS advocates, suggests these bylaws are "a half a short step away from Crossing one of their lines for anti-Semitism."