The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) would like to address the spelling of the term ‘antisemitism’, often rendered as ‘anti-Semitism’. IHRA’s concern is that the hyphenated spelling allows for the possibility of something called ‘Semitism’, which not only legitimizes a form of pseudo-scientific racial classification that was thoroughly discredited by association with Nazi ideology, but…
(Published in Ι Kathimerini Newspaper April 5, 2018) By Photini Tomai* The experience gained from the close monitoring of anti-Semitism and Holocaust issues for over two decades leaves no scope for misjudgments: anti-Semitism is still here; so are its derivatives, regardless of their grade and intensity, whenever and wherever onset. At his opening address…
I am German, I am Jewish, my Grandmother is a Schindler survivor. Her fate living through the Holocaust has led me to my academic and professional career and is the driving motivation behind my work combating anti-Semitism and advocating for Holocaust remembrance in Europe as director of EU Affairs for B’nai B’rith International. Jewish life…
The European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (WGAS), held an event at the European Parliament to discuss the importance of building bridges through cooperation and dialogue as opposed to destructive and counterproductive calls for boycotts, namely by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement (BDS). The event, which was titled “Culture and Education: Bridges, not Boycotts”, consisted…
Brussels, Thursday, July 4, 2019) – European Jewish Congress President Dr. Moshe Kantor has expressed great concern over the results of a EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) report “Young Jewish Europeans: perceptions and experiences of antisemitism.” Some of the results include four in five of the young Jewish Europeans say that antisemitism is a problem in…
The European Jewish Congress (EJC) applauds the European Parliament for passing a resolution endorsing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism and calls on EU member states to adopt and apply the definition. “This is a monumental day for the fight against hate and the protection of the rights of European Jews,”…
Working definition: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
The Chair of the European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (EP-WGAS), Heinz K Becker MEP (Austria, EPP), condemns the wave of antisemitic attacks that have taken place across Europe following President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, or any other political issue, can never serve as justification…
The recent political campaign by the Hungarian Government against George Soros utilized motifs with a very problematic anti-Semitic past, including the image of a shadowy puppeteer pulling the strings of politicians. The European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (WGAS) would like to draw attention to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which lists one of…
In my capacity as Chair of the European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (EP-WGAS), on the immensely sad occasion of Shimon Peres death, I want to express my deepest condolences and sympathies. I had the privilege to meet with Shimon Peres several times. He was a political giant and a peace hero, one of the wisest politicians and human…
