Kenneth Roth Completely Off Base

Sent to the Boston Globe December 27, 2024

Dear Editor:

Kenneth Roth, whose stewardship of the once admirable NGO Human Rights Watch, compelled Robert Bernstein to renounce the organization he founded because of Roth's fanatical demonization of Israel, is totally off base with his op-ed "Harvard's new approach to antisemitism is dangerous."

Contrary to Roth's assertion, the IHRA definition of antisemitism has absolutely nothing to do with inhibiting free expression. It merely provides the gold standard for understanding what constitutes antisemitism. It does no more to inhibit free expression than observing that the hateful use of the N-word is racist.

Indeed, the fact that a hateful screed like Roth's could be a featured op-ed in a respected newspaper like the Boston Globe proves the falsity of his arguments.

Sincerely,

Alan Stein

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