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‘I’m Jewish (and) they’ve basically called me anti-Semitic. It’s distressing’

The motion approved by the executive, in an 11 to 1 vote, makes no mention of Israel. In fact, it specifically states that the vote does not represent an indication of support for “any state or non-state actors involved or associated with a specific political or military conflict.”

Despite that, Benlolo said Wednesday that the vote represents an act of “anti-Semitism.” That’s because, he said, the divestment campaign is being led by the York chapter of Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA), a group that advocates a broader campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel and Israeli academics.

“The problem is, they’re aligning themselves with SAIA,” he said.

However, Richard Wellen, the president of the faculty association, said SAIA is just one of dozens of organizations, including Amnesty International, supporting the divestment campaign. He said the executive vote, which still has to be approved by the union’s Steward’s Council, has nothing to do with anything other than weapons manufacturers.

He also accused the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre of “bullying” him and other members of the executive. “I’m Jewish (and) they’ve basically called me anti-Semitic,” he said. “It’s distressing.”

The outcry over the divestment campaign comes just weeks after a heated fight over a controversial painting in the York University student centre generated international headlines. The presence of the canvas, which shows a Palestinian holding rocks behind his back while staring at an under-construction Israeli settlement, spurred film mogul Paul Bronfman to pull all philanthropic support from the school.

Asked about the divestment campaign Wednesday, a spokesperson for York said the university’s investment approach, which has been approved by the Social Investment Organization and the Coalition of Universities for Responsible Investing, “does not recommend the use of negative screening or divesting from particular companies.”

• Email: rwarnica@nationalpost.com | Twitter: richardwarnica