A judge in Pennsylvania has tossed out most of an Israel lobby-backed lawsuit against Park Point University that claimed that a professor had created a hostile work environment due to his – and his students’ – support for Palestinian rights.

The lawsuit was filed in 2019 by Channa Newman, a professor at the university, who claimed that she was a target of anti-Semitism due to her Zionist beliefs.

Newman’s lawsuit alleged that Robert Ross, who teaches literary arts and social justice studies at Point Park used his position to foster “a militant version” of the boycott, divesment and sanctions (BDS) movement and “hateful views against Israel” that “are anti-Semitic.”

Ross once contributed to The Electronic Intifada.

His colleague, J. Dwight Hines, was also named in Newman’s lawsuit as Ross’ supporter.

Newman alleged that their political views, and those of their students, led to a hostile work environment for her.

Her lawsuit cited the US State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism.

Like the very similar International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition that is promoted by Israel and its lobby, the State Department definition includes claims that it is anti-Semitic to say Israel’s foundation was a “racist endeavor” or to apply “double standards” to Israel by requiring from it “behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”

Attorneys with the Lawfare Project represented Newman in court.

The Lawfare Project is an Israel lobby group that uses...

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