The Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers and academic-related in the UK. has voted to distance itself from the European Union's working definition of anti-Semitism at its annual congress in Harrogate, the Jewish Chronicle reported.
Delegates overwhelmingly supported the move on the part of the union's leadership, which believes the definition from the European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia "prevents open discussion of Israel."
The union has a history of anti-Israel activism. On Sunday, it voted through a boycott motion.
Moves to boycott Israeli academics two years ago had been dropped by the union after legal advice that this could breach laws against racial discrimination.
The definition of anti-Semitism includes any attacks on the Jewish people's right to self-determination.
Last week, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust wrote to the union and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) urging a rethink on the issue.
The Jewish organizations urged the union to adopt the definition of racism contained in the Macpherson report on the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence. This defines a racist incident as one which is viewed as such by the victim or a third party.
EHRC chair Trevor Phillips wrote back saying he was surprised the lecturers' union had not consulted him before taking action on the issue.
Jeremy Newmark, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council said: "After today's events I believe the UCU is institutionally racist."