Jewish groups ask White House to reject progressive-supported definition of antisemitism.

The Biden administration is set to release its strategy to combat antisemitism, but it may come at the cost of reversing U.S. policy on the widely accepted definition of hatred towards Jews and Israel.

Progressives Pushing for Change

Progressives have been pressuring the White House to abandon the U.S. adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, according to Jewish Insider.

The IHRA Definition

The IHRA definition, adopted by dozens of countries, states that “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.”

The Issue at Play

Progressives take issue with the definition’s inclusion of animosity towards Zionism, the Jewish belief and right to their ancestral homeland, the State of Israel. This hostility is known as far-left antisemitism.

• Examples of anti-Zionism under the IHRA definition include:
• “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor”;
• “applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation”;
• “using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”

The Nexus Document

The administration’s latest draft includes the IHRA definition but also an alternative one, called the Nexus Document, that was created by left-wing scholars, reported Jewish Insider.

The IHRA Definition is Crucial

Many Jewish and pro-Israel groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, have called on the Biden administration to keep the IHRA definition. The Endowment for Middle East Truth “very strongly” supports the IHRA definition, citing that it protects Jewish students on college campuses. Zionist Organization of America President Mort Klein said, “[President Joe] Biden refusing to invoke the IHRA powerful and comprehensive antisemitism definition proves his claims to fight antisemitism is a lie.”

StopAntisemitism Weighs In

StopAntisemitism, another group that combats hatred against Jews, called on the administration to buck the far-left pressure campaign and adopt the IHRA definition. “Antisemitism has to be defined to be fought, and StopAntisemitism believes that adopting the IHRA definition should be a key part of the Biden administration’s antisemitism strategy,” said Liora Rez, StopAntisemitism’s executive director.

StopAntisemitism blasted the progressives seeking for the IHRA definition to be dumped. “IHRA is by far the most widely recognized definition of antisemitism in the world, and equating it with less comprehensive or specific definitions would muddy the waters, hampering efforts to combat antisemitism,” said Rez.