Article content continued

Major newspapers in Israel also covered the issue; the Times of Israel running a column on it under the headline: “Are Jews welcome at the University of Toronto?”

It isn't the case that any rejection has occurred

The graduate students’ union has since issued an apology:

“The external commissioner did not intend to do harm in using this language,” wrote the union in an email to Hillel, “but recognizes that this is not an excuse for the harm that the wording of this response caused to the individual receiving it, as well as to Jewish students at U of T…. The UTGSU Executive Committee is deeply sorry for the harm that this response has caused.”

That said, the graduate students’ union suggested in an interview that their stance had been taken out of context and proportion.

“It isn’t the case that any rejection has occurred, it just hasn’t gone to the board yet. So, the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union hasn’t rejected to support this campaign — that not only hasn’t happened but would be impossible for the executive to do because we don’t speak on behalf of the entire organization.

“Nobody, the executive committee or the board of director, has had this motion brought before them at this time.”

The spokesperson declined to provide their name, citing safety concerns over comments made over this issue.

Following the apology, the proposal will be considered and a meeting is being planned between the executive, Hillel and the board member who made the request, the spokesperson said.