A number of Palestine activist teams and lecturers working within the area of anti-Semitism research have issued separate statements elevating their considerations on instrumentalising anti-Semitism forward of tomorrow’s Worldwide Discussion board on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Anti-Semitism held in Malmo, Sweden.
In response to an announcement issued right this moment by the Palestinian Motion Group in Southern Sweden, which consists of Swedes of Palestinian origin, together with different Palestinian unions and establishments in Europe, considerations have been raised that the end result of the occasion could possibly be used “to prosecute or repress those that criticize the Israeli occupation and the Zionist motion with false allegations of anti-Semitism”
Such considerations, the signatories argue are primarily based on the truth that the sponsor of the discussion board, the Worldwide Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has linked its extensively contested definition of anti-Semitism to anti-Zionism, which may embody criticism of the Israeli occupation.
“The Israeli occupation state, with the participation of the Zionist motion internationally, is concurrently pressuring international locations around the globe to boycott worldwide conferences that differentiate between anti-Semitism and opposition to the Zionist motion,” the assertion reads.
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As an alternative, the assertion calls for the worldwide discussion board to make use of this yr’s “Bear in mind and react” title to additionally bear in mind the struggling of the Palestinian people who started within the early twentieth century on account of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and the following Nakba in 1948 perpetrated by the Zionist motion.
In a statement launched yesterday signed by 54 students working in anti-Semitism research and associated fields, a “stark warning” was additionally made to EU leaders and the UN “in opposition to the political instrumentalisation of the struggle in opposition to antisemitism.”
Issues surrounding the so-called working definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA was highlighted, which embody 11 up to date examples of anti-Semitism, “seven of which relate to Israel”
“These examples are being weaponised in opposition to human rights organisations and solidarity activists who denounce Israel’s occupation and human-rights violations,” the assertion burdened.
“They legitimise wrongful accusations of antisemitism, which function a warning for anybody voicing criticism of Israel’s therapy of the Palestinians. This has a chilling impact on free speech and academic freedom and compromises the struggle in opposition to antisemitism.”
Signatories included Moshe Behar, Programme Director of Arabic & Center Japanese Research on the College of Manchester, Naomi Chazan, Professor Emerita of Political Science on the Hebrew College of Jerusalem and Moshe Zuckermann, Professor Emeritus of Historical past and Philosophy at Tel Aviv College.
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