The city of Paris has become the first capital in Europe to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism that links hatred of Israel with anti-Semitism.
“The possibility of criticizing Israel’s policies on many subjects is something that comes under political opinion and the exercise of political opinion. The position of criticizing Israel in its state as existence itself falls under a definition of anti-Semitism, it is a new form of anti-Semitism, “declared Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo during the vote by the Council of Paris adopting the definition.
The Council, which consists of 163 councillors, is responsible for governing the French capital.
‘’Because the State of Israel was also created because there was the Shoah,we must be very clear with the words, that we can carry the values of freedom and that this definition adopted by our assembly we will give each word its precise meaning and live up to the history of our city. We are the city in which the Vel d’Hiv roundup took place, we are a city in which a Jewish community of Europe has settled down and made this city its city and the Republic its Republic and this history commits us, ” Hidalgo said.
The IHRA definition is an internationally agreed classification of anti-Semitism, which also provides contemporary examples of how anti-Semitism too often plays out in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere.
It reads: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which can be expressed by hatred towards them. The rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed against Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and / or their property, against institutions of the Jewish community and against Jewish religious institutions. ”
Sacha Roytman-Dratwa , Director of the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM), welcomed the city of Paris decision. ”We warmly congratulate the city of Paris on this landmark decision. Antisemitism is not an abstract concept, it takes place on a regular basis in the streets, offices, schools, homes and institutions within cities. Therefore, it is crucial that cities themselves tackle Jew-hatred head on. Properly defining antisemitism is the first step to defeating it. By adopting the IHRA definition, Paris and its Mayor Anne Hidalgo is setting a tremendous example to other capitals and major cities. Hopefully many other mayors and municipal leaders will be inspired to follow in Paris’ footsteps.”
CAM is organizing on 16 arch its first Global Mayor’s digital summit which will bring together municipal and local leaders from across the world, empowering them to eradicate anti-Semitism, prejudice and hatred from their cities.