Many well-intentioned people still struggle to understand what exactly constitutes antisemitism and when anti-Israel rhetoric ‘crosses the line.’

Many universities have been reluctant to embrace a definition that, among other things, considers some criticisms of Israel as antisemitic. The university’s decision was part of a lawsuit settlement.

Critics say the definition Harvard adopted conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism and could chill pro-Palestinian speech.

Harvard University has settled two lawsuits accusing the Ivy League school of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitic bullying and harassment on campus.

The nation’s richest Ivy League university lost millions in fundraising dollars after drawing donor ire over antisemitism on campus. These settlements could be the first step to assuaging those concerns.

Harvard has agreed to strengthen its policies against antisemitism and adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Association definition of antisemitism.