Definition

A letter to UN secretary-general says the definition is often used to wrongly label criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.

According to the IHRA’s working definition, “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. [128 scholars ask UN not to adopt IHRA definition of anti-Semitism](/news/2022/11/3/128-scholars-ask-un-not-to-adopt-ihra-definition-of-anti-semitism?traffic_source=KeepReading) [What really happened during Labour’s ‘anti-Semitism crisis’](/news/2022/9/25/what-really-happened-during-labours-anti-semitism-crisis?traffic_source=KeepReading) [Head of top German art fair resigns in anti-Semitism row](/news/2022/7/16/top-german-art-fair-head-forced-to-resign-in-anti-semitic-row?traffic_source=KeepReading) [letter](https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/04/human-rights-and-other-civil-society-groups-urge-united-nations-respect-human) published on Monday, 60 human and civil rights organisations said the UN should not use the definition in its action plan against anti-Semitism and subsequent activities.

In letter to secretary-general, 60 groups say controversial definition labels critics of Israel as antisemitic.

To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this [Read More »](/news/antisemitism-ihra-definition-what-controversial-why) The IHRA defines antisemitism as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews" and which may be "directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property". The signatories to the letter include Human Rights Watch, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and dozens of other organisations. The letter, which was also sent to Under Secretary-General Miguel Angel Moratinos, said that while the adoption of this definition has often been framed by governments and institutions as a key step in fighting antisemitism, in practice, however, it "has often been used to wrongly label criticism of Israel as antisemitic". [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/antisemitism-ihra-definition-what-controversial-why)'s (IHRA) working [definition](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/antisemitism-ihra-definition-what-controversial-why) of antisemitism, in a joint letter sent to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday.

This is because the definition has improperly labelled anyone critical of Israel and activists as “antisemitic.” The working definition defines antisemitism as:.

Ultimately, the ABA [adopted](https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2023/02/midyear-house-actions-recap/) a definition of antisemitism that did not reference the IHRA working definition. [letter](https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/01/26/human-rights-watch-letter-co-sponsors-proposed-aba-resolution-514-antisemitism) from Human Rights Watch to the co-sponsors of a proposed [American Bar Association (ABA) Resolution 514](https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/directories/policy/midyear-2023/514-midyear-2023.pdf) on Antisemitism. Despite this, the civil society groups discouraged adopting the working definition, echoing recent concerns from Ken Stern, the main drafter of the working definition. This is because the definition has improperly labelled anyone critical of Israel and activists as “antisemitic.” The working definition defines antisemitism as: Antisemitic sentiments have been on the rise worldwide, with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) In an open letter to the UN, the advocacy groups emphasized the need for practical anti-antisemitism measures.

60 human and civil rights organizations on Tuesday released a joint open letter urging the United Nations not to adopt the International Holocaust ...

[A previous congressional letter](https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/01/24/bipartisan-congressional-letter-calls-for-un-officials-firing-over-outrageous-antisemitic-remarks/) in January described the UN as having “a pattern of antisemitic behavior and rhetoric” and being “obsessively focused on the world’s only Jewish state.” “The IHRA Working Definition affirms that criticism of Israel is not antisemitism,” they said. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.” The IHRA working definition of antisemitism was adopted in 2016 as a non-binding effort to identify and combat antisemitism. Cavallaro, like many of the signatories to Tuesday’s letter, also characterizes Israel as an “apartheid state.” “There are no examples where the working definition was used to prevent legitimate criticism of Israel on any grounds just as any other country could be.”

Antisemitism is a pernicious ideology that poses real harm to Jewish communities around the world and requires meaningful action to combat it. Our organizations ...

The Israel advocacy groups claimed that SJP's positions, such as its support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, are "clear indicators of anti-Semitism under the examples listed by the IHRA." After the United Kingdom's government adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism at the national level, at least two UK universities in 2017 banned certain activities planned for "Israel Apartheid Week." - "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination; e.g. The same goes for numerous UN agencies, departments, committees, panels and/or conferences, whose work touches on issues related to Israel and Palestine, as well as for civil society actors and human rights defenders engaging with the UN system. However, in practice, these disclaimers have failed to prevent the politically motivated instrumentalization of the IHRA definition in efforts to muzzle legitimate speech and activism by critics of Israel's human rights record and advocates for Palestinian rights. Sixty human rights and civil rights organizations, including DAWN, wrote to Secretary-General António Guterres and the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Ángel Moratinos.

In the letter, the signatories said the IHRA definition can be used to justify Israeli government policies against Palestinians, and to label criticism of the ...

The groups urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos not to “endorse or adopt” the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, which is that “antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. In the letter, the signatories said the IHRA definition can be used to justify Israeli government policies against Palestinians, and to label criticism of the government, or support for Palestinian rights, as antisemitic. The organizations — including Human Rights Watch, Israeli group B’Tselem, the American Civil Liberties Union, Palestinian group Al-Haq and the International Federation for Human Rights — warned that despite “pernicious” antisemitism posing “real harm to Jewish communities around the world,” the UN should ensure its “meaningful action” against it does not “inadvertently embolden or endorse policies and laws that undermine fundamental human rights, including the right to speak and organize in support of Palestinian rights and to criticize Israeli government policies.”

A sales load is a fee (charged as a percentage of their invested balance) that an investor pays to their broker when they purchase or redeem shares of a mutual ...

The D.C. Circuit has revived a bid to certify a proposed class of Hilton employees who say the hotel giant's retirement plan refused benefits to more than ...

You have to know what’s happening with clients, competitors, practice areas, and industries. [Click here to login](/account/login?return_url=%2Fappellate%2Farticles%2F1593634%2Fdc-circ-nixes-fail-safe-class-definition-in-hilton-suit) In the legal profession, information is the key to success.

The NGOs involved in this campaign include a number of terror-linked groups, NGOs that run campaigns denying Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, those ...

Al-Haq Tells the World to Dismantle Israel](https://www.ngo-monitor.org/reports/does-europe-support-this-al-haq-tells-the-world-to-dismantle-israel/)” and “ [Al-Haq’s Antisemitic Submission to the UN’s Permanent COI](https://www.ngo-monitor.org/reports/al-haqs-antisemitic-submission-to-the-uns-permanent-coi/).”) [submitted a flagrantly antisemitic report](https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/20219.html)to the UN Human Rights Council’s permanent “Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel” (COI). [Qadi posted on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ahmad.qadi.7/posts/pfbid0ACaq6nRSbg6BMPvurWDgtJ11wZEzi1otiVU4pWeCkshBkMgsmHYqPeTGKZVD1GV1l), “For decades, the Israeli criminal entity has been… #deeply_exciting.” Qadi also commented, “Heroes,” “Men of Palestine,” “Congratulations and mercy for all the resistance fighters and martyrs. [The ADL reported 2,024 antisemitic incidents in the US in 2020](https://www.adl.org/resources/report/audit-antisemitic-incidents-2020)– then the third highest total recorded. [The ADL reported 2,717 antisemitic incidents in the US in 2021](https://www.adl.org/resources/report/audit-antisemitic-incidents-2021)– the highest total since the organization began tracking in 1979. Specifically, Addameer, Al-Haq, and Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P) were all designated as terrorist entities by Israel in October 2021, due to their ties to the PFLP. [gratuitously attacked the IHRA definition](https://twitter.com/IsraelinUN/status/1587234802691981315)in a presentation to the General Assembly, dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union spoke out against this maligning of the IHRA definition and strongly rejected her false claims. Keeping in mind the above observations, ECRI welcomes the non-legally binding IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism in the sense that it aids and promotes a better understanding of antisemitism.” In addition, their claim that the IHRA definition “restricts legitimate criticism of Israel” highlights the fact that, from the infamous 2001 Durban NGO Forum until the present, NGO campaigns that seek to demonize Israel through the exploitation of human rights are fundamentally illegitimate. findings of major Israeli, Palestinian and global human rights organizations that Israeli authorities are committing the crime against humanity of apartheid against Palestinians.” To support the allegations, HRW and its allies rely on statements from an individual The NGOs involved in this campaign include a number of terror-linked groups, NGOs that run campaigns denying Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, those claiming that the country’s existence is a form of apartheid, and pro-BDS lobbyists.

'The university's view is that it has sufficient protections and measures in place to help prevent and respond to any form of discrimination within its ...

Addressing antisemitism and racism on campus means consulting with those impacted – what makes Jewish students the exception?” Rather, its purpose is to help well-meaning people engage in conversations without needlessly offending a long-persecuted minority.” It cannot and isn’t designed to do so.