ROME—European Jewish Congress (EJC) President called for the adoption of the the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism by all members states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)..
Moshe Kantor spoke in Rome at the OSCE International Conference on the Responsibility of States, Institutions and Individuals in the Fight against Anti-Semitism.
The conference was held on the 80th anniversary of the racial laws that were promulgated in Italy in 1938, and ahead of Italy assuming the Presidency of the IHRA. Among the participants at the conference were high-level government delegations and independent institutions, as well as representatives of civil society.
The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism has already officially been adopted by the UK, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria and Austria.
“The adoption by the OSCE of the working definition of anti-Semitism; amending national legislation based on the adopted definition and bringing national enforcement practices in line with the general definition.”
Kantor noted the importance of adopting this definition, amending national legislation and bringing national enforcement practices, ‘’for European Jewry to feel safer on the continent.’’
“On the Jewish street, the search for solutions is constant, but they often result in the pessimistic dilemma of staying in Europe and living with the challenges of anti-Semitism or finding a safer place elsewhere,” he said.
“Antisemitism is not only a Jewish problem, it concerns all European citizens. Extremist ideologies start by threatening Jews, but are in fact a challenge to society as a whole. We have to move fast and not wait for a new catastrophe.”
During the event, the EJC Presidnet presented awards to two worthy recipients. Firstly, he presented a Jerusalem Navigator award to the Italian Foreign Minister Alfano for “fighting against all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Zionism, which represents the most hateful and creeping form of antisemitism.” He also presented the Golden Vision award to Ambassador Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, for “devoting his life to the flourishing of Judaism, helping Jews reconnect with their roots and helping rebuild Jewish communities across the world.”