A Palestinian perspective on the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism
JVL Introduction
One effect of the discussion around the IHRA working definition of antisemitism has been to drive the question of Palestine off the agenda.
Whatever the intentions of the original drafters, this is undoubedly the willed-for consequence that many pushing the definition today desire.
Make the costs of criticising Israel policy and Zionist occupation so high that few dare go there, shift the focus to the alleged antisemites within, ignore the real and growing threat of right-wing antisemitism – and Palestine disappears from view.
In this essay Moe Alqasem, originally from Nablus, now a Palestinian community organiser in Canada, explores how the IHRA definition has been mobilised against the Palestinians.
How many cases of anti-Semitism, he asks, have actually been exposed and condemned as a result of the IHRA’s WDA, as opposed to expressions of solidarity with Palestinians?
Thanks to Spring Magazine and Moe Alqasem for permission to repost.
This article was originally published by Spring on Wed 14 Oct 2020. Read the original here.
A Palestinian perspective on the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism
Loading article text…
Excellent.
And what sort of people try to shut down debate and freedom of expression!
What sort of people have no problem whatsoever with smearing Empaths as anti-semites!
Excellent article.
Another good critique of the IHRA misdefinition of antisemitism. We need to reject it wherever it reveals its ugly head. It is being weaponised globally by the pro Israel lobby to attack the BDS movement and free speech on Israel. They are trying to label anybody supporting the Palestinian struggle against settler colonialism as antisemitic. As the author points out, there’s no contradiction between fighting antisemitism and demanding justice for Palestinians. The real threat to the Jewish community is closer to home.