Stepping into the Controversy: A Look at Antisemitism Definitions and the Left Party's Contentious Stand
"Lurking Risk: Left-leaning Faction Potentially Overlooking Certain Indviduals' Misdeeds"
Social Media E-Mail Print Copy Link Let's dive into the ongoing debate regarding the definitions of antisemitism and how it connects to the Left Party's recent move in Chemnitz.
** "[The room]... burst into applause when a delegate presented the Jerusalem Declaration and the party leadership's attempt to prevent it was thwarted." ** (ntv.de)
This applause-filled moment during the Left Party's congress in Chemnitz was for the adoption of the "Jerusalem Declaration," an antisemitism definition often seen as a counterpart to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition. The resolution also sparked significant criticism within the party, with Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow voicing concerns about accusations that would eliminate Israel and potentially expel or destroy Jews.
Historian and antisemitism expert Juliane Wetzel explains the underlying differences between the two definitions. Both are subject to misuse, she notes, while highlighting that the IHRA definition is incompletely referenced in Germany. The lack of the IHRA's clause acknowledging that criticism of Israel cannot be regarded as antisemitic when not loaded with antisemitic stereotypes is a point of contention.
Why the missing clause matters: Anti-Semitism can be denounced too quickly, potentially diluting the concept. The boundary between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism becomes blurred, leading to problematic situations where statements may be unjustly labeled as antisemitic.
More insights: The IHRA definition was initially meant to support Holocaust remembrance and education, instead of serving as a scientific definition. It has a broad scope, with only one exception regarding antisemitic acts against non-Jews perceived as Jewish, a topic not addressed by the Jerusalem Declaration.
Hubertus Volmer spoke with Juliane Wetzel
Source: ntv.de
- Interviews
- Antisemitism
- Criticism of Israel
- Left Party
- Holocaust Remembrance
- Education
- Definitions
- The ongoing controversy surrounding antisemitism definitions, as exemplified by the Left Party's adoption of the Jerusalem Declaration, raises questions about the role of education-and-self-development in promoting a nuanced understanding of criticism of Israel and its potential implications in politics.
- In the context of the Left Party's contentious stand on antisemitism definitions, it's crucial to recognize the significance of the employment policy in governing how political parties address general-news issues, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, to help maintain a balance between freedom of speech and the prevention of antisemitism.
