The European Union Agency for Fundamental
Rights[i] working definition of antisemitism
may be summarized as “hatred toward Jews”.[ii]
The working definition states “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.”
Certain groups will misconstrue that criticism of Israel is antisemitic.
However, criticism of Israel and antisemitism are not synonymous. A
responsible democratic society welcomes criticism to ensure governments are held
accountable. The practical guide to the working definition of
antisemitism clearly states “criticism of Israel to that similar to that
leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic”[iii].
The Working Definition of Antisemitism
states “Examples of the ways in which antisemitism manifest itself with regard
to the state of Israel taking into account the overall context could
include:… drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the
Nazis” [emphasis added]. That does not mean a critic cannot make such a
comparison - but it does mean that if such a comparison is made then the
criteria used to judge if it is antisemitic will depend on the overall
context.
Notes
[i] formerly called European Union Monitoring
Centre on Racism and Xenophobia - EUMC
[ii] EUMC Working Definition of Antisemitism http://web.archive.org/web/20120324063309/http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/material/pub/AS/AS-WorkingDefinition-draft.pdf
[iii] EUMC Working Definition of Antisemitism, 16 March 2005 http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/material/pub/AS/AS-WorkingDefinition-draft.pdf
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/research/publications/studies_discussion_papers/studies_antisemitismreport_en.htm. Also see the Council of Europe Definition ECRI General Policy
Recommendation N°9:
The fight against antisemitism
Adopted by uropean
Commission against Racism and Intolerance antisemitism (ECRI) on 25 June 2004
JTA, 'EU drops its ‘working definition’ of anti-Semitism', Times of Israel, December 5, 2013,
European Forum on Antisemitsim
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