An employment tribunal in the UK has ruled that beliefs regarding Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and genocide are protected under anti-discrimination laws. Professor David Miller, fired from the University of Bristol for anti-Zionist views, was found to have been unfairly dismissed and discriminated against according to the tribunal’s 120-page judgment. The judge recognized Miller’s views as a philosophical belief deserving respect in a democratic society.
Miller’s anti-Zionist stance, differentiating it from antisemitism, led to his dismissal in 2021. He argued that Israel’s actions were conducive to apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. His lawyer, Zillur Rahman, called the case a landmark moment for Palestinian rights. The tribunal found Miller’s views genuinely held and compatible with a democratic society. However, the judgment faced criticism from the Union of Jewish Students for potentially endangering Jewish students on campus. This ruling sets a significant precedent for freedom of expression and academic discourse regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.