Working definition of antisemitism

rdf:langString Working definition of antisemitism

rdf:langString April 2022

rdf:langString The examples, as a matter of fact, were not "reviewed and decided upon by the Plenary." Nor did the IHRA state that it was. The first source cited, though duplicated on the IHRA website, was written by the Community Security Trust, not the IHRA. The second source makes no connection between the examples and the plenary.

rdf:langString The working definition of antisemitism (also called the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism or IHRA definition) is a non-legally binding statement on what antisemitism is which was adopted by the IHRA Plenary (consisting of representatives from 31 countries) in Bucharest, Romania, on 26 May 2016. The statement reads: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. Accompanying the working definition, but of disputed status, are 11 illustrative examples whose purpose is described as guiding the IHRA in its work, seven of which relate to Israel. The definition was developed during 2003–04 and first published on 28 January 2005 on the website of the European Union agency, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC). The publication was made "without formal review", and remained a working draft until November 2013 when the EUMC's successor agency, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), removed it from its website in "a clear-out of non-official documents". As of June 2021, the working definition has been accepted by the European Parliament and other national and international bodies and employed for internal use by a number of governmental and political institutions. The IHRA definition has been criticised by some academics who say that it stifles free speech relating to criticism of Israeli actions and policies. High-profile controversies took place in the United Kingdom in 2011 within the university and College Union and within the Labour Party in 2018. The definition has been contested for weaknesses that critics say lend themselves to abuse, for obstructing campaigning for the rights of Palestinians and for being too vague. One of the original drafters, Kenneth S. Stern, has opposed the "weaponizing" of the definition on college campuses in ways that might suppress and limit free speech.