Palestine solidarity and Zionist backlash in Australian universities

Academic solidarity with Palestine in Australia is strongly influenced by multiple factors, in particular the strength of the powerful local Zionist lobby and growing public awareness of Israeli crimes. Repression of the Palestine justice movement has run along internationally familiar lines, involving both the targeting of individuals and a broader ideological ‘war of position.’ In response, the boycott is gaining momentum in Australian universities, as manifested in the formation of new BDS and Palestine solidarity organizations, in efforts within the National Tertiary Education Union, in conferences on the topic of Palestine and BDS and similar academic activities.