Conference Agenda Oct 2021 PRINT - Flipbook - Page 102
definition.
•
The importance of a wider understanding of what
constitutes antisemitism is highlighted in a letter
co-signed by Rabbis from across the political and
communal spectrum recognising the value of the
definition in helping to understand and educate
about genuine antisemitism.
•
The IHRA definition confirms that ‘criticism of Israel
similar to that levelled against any other country
cannot be regarded as antisemitic’.
•
The paragraph preceding the list of examples
includes ‘’contemporary examples of antisemitism
in public life, the media, schools, the workplace,
and in the religious sphere could [include], taking
into account the overall context’’. That is, there
are contexts in which an example is antisemitic
and contexts in which it is not. It is therefore
understood that the IHRA is also a defence against
false accusations of antisemitism.
•
The definition and its examples are for the party’s
internal use. It is completely irrelevant how other
organisations interpret and use it.
“Antisemitism: A Guidance” is an integral part of the
motion and is in Appendix and at https://drive.google.
com/file/d/1lmRkd6Xq6FpT19hppG6AtSaq8zmpTJb1/
view?usp=sharing
D07
ANTISEMITISM, PALESTINE
AND FREE SPEECH: ENDORSING
JERUSALEM DECLARATION
INSTEAD OF IHRA
Shahrar Ali*, Les Levidow, Mark Hollinrake, Martin
Francis, Simon Hales, Jay Ginn, Danny McNamara,
Malcolm Bailey, Anne Gray, James Dickins, Christopher
Winsdale, Lois Davis, Jennifer Agricola (13)
Synopsis:
The Conference is asked to reaffirm its support for free
speech on Israel and Palestine and for The Green Party to
campaign against adoption of the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance definition of Antisemitism and
in support of Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)
campaigns. We endorse the alternative Jerusalem
102
Declaration of Antisemitism. (50)
Motion text:
Insert into Record of Organisational Statements:
Conference notes the relentless pressure upon public and
educational institutions to adopt the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism
and the associated contentious examples referring to Israel
and calls upon all Greens to stand firm against its adoption.
We endorse the alternative Jerusalem Declaration of
Antisemitism (JDA) as a politically credible and principled
alternative. Greens are at the heart of building a movement
against racism and fascism, and there is no place for
antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other kind of racism
in our Party. At a time when the far-right is growing in
confidence it is more important than ever to stand against
Holocaust denial, anti-Jewish conspiracy theories and any
other forms of antisemitic prejudice and hatred. However,
the examples which accompany the IHRA definition
systematically conflate opposition to Israeli policies with
antisemitism, threatening to undermine many years of
practical solidarity with the Palestinian people, including
use of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), in
the face of decades of dispossession and occupation.
Adopting IHRA would mean that BDS would be treated as
antisemitic. Unjustified allegations of antisemitism also set
back the fight against antisemitism itself.
We believe it is vitally important that Greens continue to
speak out to challenge Israel’s history of racism towards
the Palestinians without being labelled as antisemitic.
The IHRA definition and its examples have already posed
a serious threat to academic freedom, wider freedom
of expression and the unjustified attacks upon Green
candidates and spokespersons.
Conference instructs GPEX, the Green Party campaigns
team and elected Green Party representatives to
oppose adoption of the IHRA definition with examples
and campaign to protect free speech across our public
institutions and universities in accordance with the JDA.
D08
BDS CAMPAIGN VERSUS IHRA
EXAMPLE INSTEAD OF IHRA
Les Levidow*, Simon Hales, Peter Murry, Claudine
Letsae, Martin Francis, Jay Ginn, Danny McNamara,
Malcom Bailey, James Dickins, Jennifer Agricola, Kirsten