- Andrew Lachman - Since the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s (IHRA) “Working Definition of Antisemitism” was adopted by President Obama’s State Department in 2010 and then by parties and leaders on the right and left, by over 31 countries and by educational institutions from California to London, there’s been a great deal of debate over it.

The definition itself has elicited few objections:

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

But the accompanying “Contemporary examples of antisemitism,” which focus on speech about Israel and the right of Jews to self-determination, have elicited pushback from some pro-Palestinian and progressive Jewish groups who are concerned that the examples can be abused or politicized to stifle discussion about Israeli policy. Jewish identity is strongly intertwined with Israel’s existence, but that said, while any guideline can be abused, the guidelines might actually help set a useful precedent to limit the abuses critics are concerned about.....  MORE