International law expert and former Israeli ambassador Alan Baker is spearheading efforts to establish antisemitism as a punishable act on the global stage.
Baker, the director of the Institute for Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), recently unveiled his proposal for an “International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Antisemitism.”
The proposed convention would criminalize acts of antisemitism and incitement that lead to violence. Despite the long history of antisemitism, including events such as the Spanish Inquisition, pogroms and the Holocaust, no international treaty has defined or criminalized antisemitic acts.
Baker emphasized the urgency of this initiative, particularly in light of recent antisemitic incidents worldwide. The recent attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, described as the largest-scale antisemitic incident in the Netherlands since the Holocaust, has further underscored the need for action.
The draft convention follows the model of existing United Nations treaties addressing international crimes. It would categorize antisemitic violence as an international crime, mandating the extradition and prosecution of perpetrators. Baker explained, “I’ve defined antisemitism within the draft and called upon governments to recognize such acts as international crimes.”
However, the path to global adoption faces significant challenges. Baker expressed skepticism about support at the United Nations, citing persistent political biases.
“I’m not optimistic. The hypocrisy we’ve seen around antisemitism is likely to continue,” he said.
The European Commission reported in October that 23 out of 27 EU member states have developed national strategies for combating antisemitism. Additionally, 25 member states have adopted or endorsed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
Germany‘s Bundestag passing a resolution last week that, for the first time, identifies Muslim immigration as a contributing factor to the problem. The nonbinding resolution also calls for an end to public funding for entities engaging in antisemitism or seeking to boycott Israel.
