Demand Social Work Associations censure International Federation for Discrimination Against Israeli Social Workers
- CAEF
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Dear NASW and CASW Leadership,
As concerned social work professionals and allies, we write to express our profound dismay at your lack of condemnation regarding the International Federation of Social Workers’ (IFSW) recent censure of the Israeli Union of Social Workers. As you have a reciprocal working relationship with the IFSW we see this as tacit approval.
It must be stated that the IFSW’s censure itself does not comply with the fundamental ethical principles of our profession, including the NASW Code of Ethics and CASW’s commitment to dignity, inclusion, and social justice. By not speaking out, NASW and CASW appear to approve of the active targeting of Israeli social workers, ignoring Israel’s security realities, and unfairly singling out professionals based on nationality, ethnicity and religion. No other national group has faced such sanctions, setting a dangerous precedent for the global social work community.
The IFSW ruling disregards the events of October 7th, and the legal sovereign right of a country to defend itself in the face of a surprise attack initiated by the legally defined (in Canada and the United States) terrorist organization, Hamas, who raped, murdered and kidnapped innocent people from many countries including the US and Canada solely because they were civilians living on Israeli soil. To our knowledge, the IFSW has neither condemned the October 7th attack nor advocated for the hostages’ release, demonstrating a concerning bias that serves as a direct contradiction to social work’s stated commitment to inclusion and social justice.
Israel’s security situation does demand universal military service, as the IFSW has suggested. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are essential for national survival, ensuring the safety of all citizens, including Jews, Muslims, Druze, Christians and other minorities.
For the past year and a half, Israeli social workers in the IDF and those who have performed reserve duty have contributed to the well-being and healing of civilians affected by war. They are at the forefront of care and treatment of the families of the fallen and injured soldiers, providing crisis intervention and support and counseling. The few hostages who return to Israel alive will require psychosocial support indefinitely, as will their families.
The IFSW’s censure promotes a harmful “oppressor vs. oppressed” narrative, overlooking the efforts of Israeli social workers who are committed to peace and coexistence. Some examples include, The Israeli Union of Social Workers efforts to seek dialogue with their Palestinian counterparts. Organizations like Social Workers for Peace and Welfare (Ossim Shalom) foster partnerships between Israeli and Palestinian social work students, and The Parents Circle Families Forum brings together bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families to promote reconciliation. The censure not only ignores these initiatives, reinforcing a one-sided, prejudiced stance but turns a blind eye to efforts for coexistence and peace.
Shockingly, the censure does not comment or pass judgment on the fact that the terrorist organization, Hamas states in their charter that they are committed to the murder and eradication of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. This is what is considered a double standard.
We question whether the Russian Federation of Social Workers faced similar scrutiny when Russia invaded Ukraine; a war of aggression, not one of self-defense. To hold all citizens accountable for their government's policies is wrong, as a President or Prime Minister does not represent the views of every individual within a nation. We ask you, have the social workers of Syria, Rwanda or Sudan been censured and accused of not promoting or being committed to peace?
The selective targeting of Israeli social workers reeks of antisemitism. The IFSW has demonstrated a consistent pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel bias. By definition Zionism is the right to Jewish self-determination in Israel and is central to a collective Jewish identity. Zionism doesn’t mean unconditional support for any particular government or policy. Like patriotism, it allows for critique while still affirming Israel’s and Israelis right to exist. Delegitimizing Zionism marginalizes Jewish people worldwide and perpetuates inflammatory stereotypes. The false portrayal of Israelis as “genocidal colonizers” has infiltrated social work discourse, creating hostile environments for Jewish professionals and their clients.
In North America, we are already seeing social workers use this censure as a way to justify excluding Israeli and Jewish social workers. Just last week, antisemitic/antiZionist rhetoric infiltrated a professional listserve when social workers used this ruling to justify their Jew hatred and divisive binary.
We are deeply concerned by NASW and CASW’s failure to address rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism within the field of social work. Jewish professionals increasingly face dismissal of their concerns, professional exclusion, and written and verbal attacks which typically go unchecked.
We urge NASW and CASW to:
Recognize that the IFSW ruling contradicts your ethical codes and publicly acknowledge that excluding an entire nationality does not comply with social work’s core values.
Advocate to IFSW for a more nuanced and equitable approach to social justice issues in the region.
Publicly condemn all forms of discrimination, including antisemitism and anti-Zionism, reaffirming your commitment to ethical and inclusive practice.
Acknowledge that NASW and CASW are not geopolitical entities and should avoid endorsing divisive generalizations that undermine our profession’s credibility.
Social workers must promote equity, understanding, and justice for ALL. We urge NASW and CASW leadership to address the concerns above with the seriousness they deserve, reaffirming our profession’s foundational principles and ensuring respect for all members. We respectfully request that NASW and CASW leadership agree to meet with representatives from the Jewish Therapist Collective for the purposes of education and clarification.
Sincerely,
