What’s the use of the definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance?
The Biden administration’s U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which was published last week, has drawn outrage from those Jewish groups and commentators who unequivocally back Israel and defend the Jewish people against its enemies.
Their central charge against this strategy is that it has watered down the widely adopted IHRA working definition of antisemitism.
Examples suggested under this definition include denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination by claiming that the State of Israel is a “racist endeavor”; applying double standards by requiring of Israel behavior not expected or demanded of any other nation; comparing Israeli policy to that of the Nazis; and “holding Jews collectively responsible” for Israel’s actions.
The left opposes this definition because it encompasses the demonization of Israel, a key plank of leftist discourse.
Rather than upholding the IHRA as the gold standard, the Biden strategy document says it is one of several definitions of antisemitism.…
