Today Australian academics from the Universities of Melbourne, Sydney and Wollongong as well as Monash University launched their own chapter of SPME.

The immediate goals of the Chapter are:

ü To distribute details about upcoming lectures/seminars at Universities and the community that are in line with the aims of SPME

ü To alert members to anti-Semitism or vilification of Israel on campus. In these instances to provide support, advice if needed and to report members on action taken

ü To share scholarly papers and reports in order to develop effective responses to ideological distortions, including anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist, and anti-Muslim slanders, that poison debate and work against peace

ü To develop the academic SPME network throughout the country and encourage members to welcome scholars from all disciplines, faith groups, and nationalities who share our desire for peace and our commitments to academic freedom, academic integrity, and honest debate to SPME

Coordinator of the Chapter is Dr. Yoke Berry of the University of Wollongong who is also the facilitator of the Kibbutz Ex Volunteer Association (KEVA).

She can be contacted at yoke@uow.edu.au, ph. 0403 976 620