Head-Banging on Semantic Antisemitism Walls: IHRA vs. Jerusalem Declaration
"Risk emerges as some individuals may evade accountability on the left's watch"
Knock! Knock! Who's there? "The Left"! Oh, the Left turns up again, ready to confuse the JDA with the IHRA in their stuck-up antisemitism game. Here's a breakdown of these two ol' definitions that's going to clear things up, ya mangy mongrels.
IHRA Dealin' with 'Attitudes'
Got a good grip on your "certain perceptions" about Jews, huh? Well, you know who did? The geniuses behind the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Shockingly, they weren't too thrilled about those "hatreds" toward Jews either, so they made the IHRA definition. It says that antisemitism is a certain "perception" of the Jews, expressed as hatred, with examples like attacking Israel as a Jewish collectivity and hootin' Nazis comparisons[1][5].
And, hey, you deserve a pat on the back if you think it's unfair to pin the Israeli government on the collective Jewish community; that's a pretty level-headed take! Remember, though, not knockin' Israel equals not antisemitic. Got it, champ?
JDA: Subtle as a Sledgehammer, but Less Damaging
Feeling clever, maybe you've heard of the 2021 Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA). A more recent attempt at defining antisemitism, it distinguishes antisemitism from legitimate Israel criticism. The JDA offers a broader set of guidelines, including some examples but leaning towards subtle nuances when addressing potential cases of antisemitism[3].
For instance, it suggests that the "From the River to the Sea" slogan, if interpreted correctly, might not be an automatic antisemitism charge[3]. Now, that's the kind of grit you need in a definition, doncha think?
IHRA: Scope and Examples
The IHRA definition is, well, comprehensive—it's adopted pretty much everywhere (even in ol' Germany) and offers a Massive 11 examples to illustrate what antisemitism looks like[1]. But don't worry, they weren't all "Hitler was right" and Nazis stuff, they acknowledged the importance of distinguishing criticism of Israel and antisemitism.
JDA: Nuanced and Specific
The JDA offers more specific examples focusing on intent and context, using less drastic examples than the IHRA definition[3]. Naturally, throwing the phrase "From the River to the Sea" around isn't inherently antisemitic; still, you'd want to check that it's not being used to call for the Jewish extermination (yeah, that old chestnut).
A Little Historical Context
Back in 2017, when Germany adopted the IHRA definition, rumors flew that the criticism of Israel clause got the ol' heave-ho. However, when you separate the wheat from the chaff, you'll find there was nary an omission, just a focus on applying the definition with flexibility, ensuring criticism of Israel doesn't automatically lead to antisemitism allegations[1].
Now, go grab a brew and make like the Berlin Wall, knock it down between IHRA and Jerusalem. Just don't confuse the two, kemosabe!
Interview by Juliane Wetzel (antisemitism expert), conducted by Hubertus Volmer
Sources & Citations:
[1] "International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism" - [https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/documents/working-definition-antisemitism]
[2] "Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism" - [http://www.jda-global.org]
[3] "Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA): A Comparative Study" - [https://www.bicom-middleeast.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/JDA-Comparative-Study-2021.pdf]
[4] "Germany adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism" - [https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/germany-adopts-the-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism]
[5] "Criticism of Israel's government is not antisemitic, IHRA definition makes clear" - [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47415185]
- It's essential to understand that while both the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) aim to define antisemitism, they approach it differently. The IHRA focuses on certain perceptions of Jews and offers examples such as attacking Israel as a Jewish collectivity and making Nazi comparisons, focusing on attitudes rather than specific instances.
- In contrast, the JDA offers a more nuanced approach, focusing on intent and context, often relying on detailed examples and less drastic examples than the IHRA. For instance, while the "From the River to the Sea" slogan isn't inherently antisemitic, it must be assessed in its specific context to ensure it's not being used to call for the Jewish extermination.
