On Wednesday evening, the Israeli Parliament approved a text that adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism.
“Today we made the historic decision” to accept this definition, Knesset Speaker Mika Levy said in a statement. He added that “The Knesset, as the House of Representatives of the Jewish People, is committed to combating anti-Semitism in its worst forms… including Holocaust denial, denial of the Jewish people’s right to self-determination, and anti-Semitic statements under the guise of criticizing Israel.” This definition, adopted to date in more than 30 countries around the world, defines a number of actions that are considered anti-Semitic, chief among which is Holocaust denial.
According to this definition, “anti-Semitism is a specific perception of the Jews, which can manifest itself in hatred towards them. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism target Jews or non-Jews and/or their property, institutions and places. worship.”
However, those who reject this definition argue that it precludes specific criticism of the State of Israel by including in the category of anti-Semitism “the denial of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination”, which they argue means that it confuses anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance denounces “an unequal treatment of the State of Israel that requires conduct that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic country.” In a statement, Chief Canbeit stressed that “anti-Semitism undermines the most fundamental democratic values and the fight against them is necessary”, calling on parliaments around the world to “join the battle by accepting” this definition of anti-Semitism.
