The American Teachers Union votes to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League over Israel.

Washington - Saeed Erekat

The largest teachers union in the United States has voted to end its partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), citing concerns about the group's pro-Israel stance and its approach to defining antisemitism.

The resolution was passed last Sunday at the National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly in Portland, Oregon, by a majority vote of its 7,000 delegates. The resolution states that the NEA "will not use, endorse, or disseminate ADL materials, such as its curriculum materials or statistics," and "will not participate in ADL programs or disseminate its professional development offerings."

Supporters of the NEA resolution argued that the association had used accusations of anti-Semitism to target critics of Israel and advocates for Palestinian rights. Delegates expressed concerns about what they described as the ADL's distortion of educational materials and political discourse, as well as its involvement in efforts to influence school and university policies.

This measure was introduced by the National Education Association's caucuses, which sought to include a broader perspective on the Middle East and North Africa in school curricula. In recent years, new caucuses have organized to include terms such as the Nakba and Palestinian history in the association's racial and social justice program.

The National Education Association described this action as a "boycott," requiring further procedural steps. However, because it is considered a "penalty clause," the action is automatically referred to the National Education Association's Executive Committee.

"The formal procedure for the proposal is being adopted and referred to the committee," a spokesperson for the association said. The association affirmed its commitment to addressing anti-Semitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance in schools.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has worked in schools for decades, promoting anti-bias and Holocaust awareness through programs such as "No Room for Hate." According to its website, more than 1.7 million students and 190,000 teachers in more than 2,000 schools participated last year.

The Anti-Defamation League, effectively a front for the Zionist lobby in the United States, also co-administers Echoes and Reflections, a Holocaust education initiative, in collaboration with the USC Holocaust Foundation and Yad Vashem, and leads the World of Difference Institute, which trains students and teachers to confront prejudice and discrimination.

A spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League described the decision as "deeply disturbing" and an attempt to "further isolate their Jewish colleagues and impose an extremist and anti-Semitic agenda on students." The spokesperson said the decision amounts to scapegoating, adding that the ADL "will not waver in its support for Israel" or deter its programs from reaching students.

The National Education Association affirmed in a statement that it will continue to "educate and organize against anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, and all forms of hatred and discrimination." It added that the association "will not hesitate to address difficult or controversial issues" affecting members, students, or schools.

This is the latest rift between educators and the Anti-Defamation League over Israel's war of genocide in the Gaza Strip. In December 2024, the ADL condemned remarks at a national conference on diversity in private schools after speakers described Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide and described its establishment as a racist endeavor. The group joined other Jewish organizations in criticizing what it described as a "toxic atmosphere" that made some Jewish students feel unsafe.

The Anti-Defamation League has also come under fire for issuing "report cards" that grade universities based on their responses to Gaza solidarity protest camps, an effort critics say is aimed at pressuring schools to suppress pro-Palestine activism.

The Anti-Defamation League also played a significant role in demonizing students protesting Israel's war of genocide, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and promoting the notion that slogans like "Free Palestine" are inherently anti-Semitic.

The resolution cited a case involving the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which faced accusations of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment after developing internal educational resources about Palestine. After the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) publicly criticized these materials, MTA leadership stated that it faced backlash, including defamation, threats, and legislative scrutiny.

The resolution also cited previous disputes between the ADL and the National Education Agency, including a 1982 dispute in which the ADL opposed an NEA-backed anti-white supremacist curriculum for being too critical of the U.S. government.