How to Define antisemitism? - Amadeu Antonio Stiftung

Combating Antisemitism: Why a Definition is Needed.

The rise in antisemitism threatens jewish life. Fighting it is a collective responsibility of society as a whole. But what exactly is antisemitism - and how do you recognize it? The correct definition is up for dispute. This leaflet introduces the debate and explains the key differences between two definitions: the “Working Definition of Antisemitism” of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and the so-called “Jerusalem Declaration” (JDA). This is not just a matter of terminology. It is crucial that definitions make antisemitism in all its forms recognizable in order to effectively protect Jewish people. Antisemitism is more than the hatred of Jews. It is a social, constantly changing phenomenon - an ideological worldview that is deeply rooted in society. It often appears in coded form, mixed with conspiracy narratives or political conflicts. It adapts to world developments - yet at its core, remains the same. While definitions do not replace analysis, they do help us to ensure that we are capable of taking action. To do so, they must be clear and precise. After all, how antisemitism is defined determines whether we recognize and combat it - or overlook and minimize it. This has tangible consequences for the lives of Jewish people.

The JDA Uncer Close Scrutiny - Three Main Problems

The BDS Campaign and the Jerusalem Declaration

Example 14 grants the BDS campaign - which, since 2005, has advocated for boycotts of Israel, for divestment, and for sanctions against the Jewish state - a form of carte blanche. The JDA states: “Boycott, divestment and sanctions are commonplace, non-violent forms of political protest against states. In the Israeli case they are not, in and of themselves, antisemitic.” It is therefore unsurprising that the BDS movement welcomed the JDA.

However: this movement is not a neutral protest campaign. It was founded by a coalition that includes organisations such as Hamas - an Islamist terrorist organisation whose founding charter calls for the destruction of Israel and glorifies violence against Jews. A central coordinating body remains the Palestinian BDS National Committee. Members of this committee include, among others, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Hamas, and the terrorist organisation Islamic Jihad.

In many BDS-related texts, events, and campaigns, Israel is delegitimised, double standards are applied, and antisemitic narratives are reproduced. The objective is frequently not political reform or peace, but the complete dissolution of Israel as a Jewish state - a demand that is not directed against a particular government, but against the existence of the world’s only Jewish polity. The JDA ignores the fact that the fight against Jewish statehood itself constitutes an act of hostility - and is a central element of contemporary antisemitism.

Consequences of an Unclear Definition

The JDA leaves a significant gap. It remains particularly vague in its treatment of coded forms of antisemitism and antisemitism related to Israel, and it contributes more to absolving certain expressions of hostility toward Jews and Israel than to clearly naming antisemitism. This creates a dangerous interpretive space in which antisemitic narratives can be downplayed or relativised. In times of increasing antisemitic incidents, however, a precise and practicable definition is indispensable - not only for clear identification, but also as the foundation for effective concepts directed against all forms of antisemitism and for the protection of those affected. An unclear definition makes the identification of antisemitism significantly more difficult - and renders its consistent confrontation nearly impossible.

Combating Antisemitism: Why a Definition is Needed.

The JDA Uncer Close Scrutiny - Three Main Problems

The BDS Campaign and the Jerusalem Declaration

Consequences of an Unclear Definition

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