As the conflict in Gaza appears to have reached a temporary ceasefire, tensions continue to reverberate far beyond the region — including within Czech academia.
On the second anniversary of the massacre of Israeli civilians, several Czech universities chose to display Palestinian flags in what they described as a gesture of solidarity with students in Gaza. Yet this act sparked widespread debate, with many alumni, artists, and public figures criticising the decision as insensitive or even antisemitic.
Petr Papoušek, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic, expressed concern over what he sees as a deepening loss of historical understanding and critical thinking within Czech universities.
“Antisemitism today takes many forms — from open hatred of Jews to what is known as ‘new antisemitism’, which often hides behind criticism of Israel,” Papoušek said.
He referred to the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, which recognises that antisemitism not only targets Jewish individuals or communities but may also include attacks against the State of Israel when it is perceived as a Jewish collective.
“Objective criticism of the Israeli government is, of course, legitimate — as long as it is applied equally to any other state. It becomes antisemitism when Israel is demonised, held to double standards, or denied its right to exist,” Papoušek clarified, adding that “anti-Zionism has become a contemporary form of antisemitism, merely in a new guise.”
He views the current disputes on university campuses as symptomatic of a broader societal trend — one marked by polarisation, the erosion of historical awareness, and an increasing reliance on emotion rather than informed reflection. “Today’s students, in my view, lack the willingness to think critically and to truly inform themselves,” he remarked.
Coincidentally, the Czech Republic has just adopted a National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism, underscoring the relevance of Papoušek’s concerns and the need for a more informed and responsible academic discourse.
