Published: 19 March 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
THE KEY DIFFERENCE in the definitions posted Tuesday by the Nexus Task Force, a project of the Knight Program in Media and Religion at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, and the 2016 definition developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is in applying double standards to Israel criticism.
The IHRA definition includes as an example of anti-Semitic Israel criticism “Applying double standards by requiring of [Israel] a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.” A number of mainstream Jewish advocacy groups are pressing US state governments and governments overseas to adopt the IHRA definition.
Critics have said the definition is too broad. The Nexus Task Force, formed in 2019 to address what it describes as a “disturbing trend to politicise and exploit anti-Semitism and Israel is growing in conservative and right-wing political circles” describes circumstances under which applying a double standard to Israel is not anti-Semitic.
“Paying disproportionate attention to Israel and treating Israel differently than other countries is not prima facie proof of anti-Semitism,” the Nexus definition says. “There are numerous reasons for devoting special attention to Israel and treating Israel differently, eg, some people care about Israel more; others may pay more attention because Israel has a special relationship with the United States and receives $US4 billion in American aid.”
The Nexus definition describes ways in which anti-Israel bias can manifest as anti-Semitism.
“It is anti-Semitic to treat Israel in a negative manner based off of a claim that Jews alone should be denied the right to define themselves as a people and to exercise any form of self-determination,” it says.
FULL STORY Liberal Jewish scholars present anti-Semitism definition that allows more freedom for Israel criticism (JTA)
The next big battle in US Jewish politics: who will be Biden's anti-Semitism envoy (Haaretz)
In a letter to the 46th president, left-wing Jewish leaders and activists urged him to pick an envoy for combatting anti-Semitism who will fight anti-Jewish bigotry within the context of other progressive issues
UCLA can shield identities of Palestinian rights advocates to prevent harassment, judge rules (LA Times)
Holocaust envoy to 'Post': Admin. enthusiastically embraced IHRA definition (Jerusalem Post)
Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Cherrie Daniels told the Post that the administration “enthusiastically embraced the IHRA working definition”
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