Vancouver’s newly elected Mayor Ken Sim’s party platform says the city will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) controversial working definition of antisemitism — a move both applauded and condemned..Initiated in 1998, the IHRA says it unites governments and experts to strengthen, advance, and promote Holocaust education and identify antisemitism — and one way it claims to do so is by promoting an alternative definition to be used around the world..“The working definition has empowered many to address this rise in hate and discrimination at their national levels,” says the IHRA, calling the redefinition a “practical tool” to identify antisemitism..One manifestation of antisemitism encompassed within the widely pressured redefinition, as the IHRA puts it, “might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity.”.The IHRA adds criticism of Israel “similar to that levelled against any other country” can’t be regarded as antisemitic..The working definition also says drawing comparisons of contemporary Israel policy to that of the Nazis is antisemitic, as is claiming the state of Israel is a racist endeavour — prompting civil liberty groups concerned with free speech to push back..Grassroots organization Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) says it condemns the IHRA definition because “it conflates criticism of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism.”.IJV — which says it is “grounded in Jewish tradition” — reiterates that its Jewish members denounce antisemitism but “support dialogue,” further calling the definition a “shield to defend Israel from criticism and a weapon to silence Israel’s critics.”.For example, whether one believes Israel, as a state, is committing apartheid against Palestinians is relatively moot in the context of IJV’s mandate, as the organization says people must simply be free to make this argument without being labelled as antisemitic for doing so..“We believe that the fight against antisemitism is undermined when principled opposition to unjust Israeli government policies and practices — including those that contravene international law are branded as antisemitic,” writes IJV..As part of its “anti-racism strategy,” the federal government of Canada adopted the IHRA definition as a non-legally binding definition in 2019..Last month Alberta became the fifth Canadian province to adopt the IHRA definition..“Hatred against any person or group based on race or religion is harmful to all of us. Alberta’s government is endorsing this definition of antisemitism to let the Jewish community know we stand with them against discrimination and will not tolerate hate in our communities," said Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro..Registered lobbyist the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) — which plainly equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism on its FAQ page — applauded Alberta’s move..“The IHRA working definition of antisemitism provides policymakers, law enforcement, and community leaders with a tool to identify, understand, and combat contemporary forms of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere,” said CIJA in a release subsequent to Alberta's September announcement..“While details of the rollout and adoption of the IHRA definition in various applications are still being formalized by the government, the community is encouraged that, through IHRA, Jewish-lived experience will now be reflected in the official understanding of antisemitism.”.BC has yet to adopt the definition. In 2019 Vancouver city councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung introduced a motion calling on the city to adopt the definition, however, it was rejected..Since then Kirby-Yung joined Sim’s ABC Vancouver, which says it will “have the city” adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism..“Vancouver already voted against adopting the IHRA in a 2019 city council meeting,” said IJV..“Let’s not go backwards.”.The Western Standard reached out to ABC Vancouver to ask about the presumed “slippery slope” in regard to free speech concerns raised by IJV and others, however neither the mayor or his party responded.
