The Madrid Assembly, which is the government of the main region in Spain, has formally adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.
The IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) working definition of anti-Semitism states that: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
It clarifies in its examples that there are anti-Zionist activities and positions that are anti-Semitic.
The Assembly also demanded that the national parliament adapt the legislation to exclude any possible grant and public aid to entities that promote anti-Semitic hatred thus defined.
This proposal to the government would effectively exclude public financing of any anti-Israel BDS (Boycott-Disinvestment- Sanctions) group or activity in Spain.
The Partido Popular (PP), which governs the Madrid region, PSOE (Socialist Party) and Vox voted in favor of the resolution, while the extreme left parties have denied their support to the project, specifically the Chavist party financed by Podemos and their political offshoot Más Madrid.
ACOM, the leading organization in the fight against anti-Semitism in Spain, which has been actively working with the different political parties on this issue, expressed satisfaction with the success of the initiative.
‘’We reaffirm our will to continue working so this crucial determination adopted by the Madrid Assembly is repeated, not only in Spain, but also in the whole of the European Union,’’ ACOM, acronym for Action and Communication on the Middle East, which has been very active against the BDS.
ACOM has so far successfully defeated Podemos’ BDS campaign across the country with over 70 court rulings declaring the pro-BDS resolutions discriminatory and unconstitutional.