University of California board weighs barring anti-Zionism

The governing board of California's flagship public university system is to vote next week on a statement condemning anti-Zionism as a form of 'anti-Jewish bigotry', a proposal sparking sharp faculty debate over the line between free speech and intolerance.

The controversy playing out at the University of California reflects a broader clash between pro-Israel groups and Palestinian rights activists over what constitutes legitimate criticism of Israeli polices in the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip.

The UC's Board of Regents is slated to act next Wednesday on a draft document produced by a working group to address the issue.

Both sides in the debate say they believe that if adopted it would be the first such policy statement by the leadership of a major US public institution of higher education.

The University of California is considered one of the most prestigious public university systems in the country, comprising 10 campuses, among which are the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Los Angeles.