Jerusalem, 18 July, 2023 (TPS) — A new report from the US-based Combat Antisemitism Movement found that the rate of states and organizations adopting a definition of antisemitism is on track to surpass last year’s total.
According to CAM, this year has seen 78 groups, states or organizations — including the countries of Latvia and Croatia — embrace the non-binding definition developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). The IHRA is an intergovernmental organization based in Berlin that seeks to strengthen Holocaust education.
The report also noted that the definition has been adopted by 33 government bodies, seven education organizations, one private company and 35 other groups in 2023. An especially high number of public organizations in Poland — 28 — have adopted the IHRA language, “in collective response to a 2021 antisemitic incident,” the report said.
Among schools now on board are the University of Melbourne in Australia, the University of Split in Croatia, Boston University’s student government and the Catholic University of Santa María la Antigua in Panama.
Now the number of countries that have adopted the IHRA definition has reached 41. With Arkansas and North Dakota joining, the count of U.S. states is at 32. In addition, bodies in Italy, Canada, Latin America and Argentina have accepted the definition, as have cities such as Dallas; Cincinnati; Boca Raton, Fla.; and South Bend, Ind.
This brings the overall number IHRA adoptions and endorsements worldwide to 1,192 since the definition was first developed in 2016.
According to the IHRA definition, “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.”
The definition cites 11 examples, including, “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor,” and “Applying double standards by requiring of it [Israel] a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”
It has already been endorsed by Israel, the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and numerous European countries. Both the European Union and the Organization of American States have urged member states that have not already done so to adopt the definition.
Public figures have also called on social media companies and news services to adopt the definition as well. In 2021, Oliver Dowden, then Britain’s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, wrote to Google, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok urging them to use the definition as a basis for moderating antisemitic content.
CAM’s report follows up on a study released in January which found that IHRA’s definition has moved into the mainstream.