Antisemitism Hotline uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working definition of Antisemitism when monitoring: “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.”
In addition, these expressions may also be directed against the State of Israel, which is seen as a Jewish collective.
Antisemitism identifies Jews as scapegoats. It is believed that Jews are part of a global conspiracy to harm humanity or gain world domination. Anti-Semitism is expressed in written or spoken language, in visualform, and in action, using malicious stereotypes and negative character traits.
Antisemitism in public life, the media, in schools, theworkplace, and in the religious sphere can look like:
· Calling for, aiding, orjustifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
· Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
· Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
· Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewishpeople at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
· Accusing the Jews as people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
· Accusing Jewish citizens ofbeing more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
Of course, this list is not complete and often the context in which events take place must also be taken into account to determine where anti-Semitism actually exists.
Sometimes anti-Semitism can also have to do with the State of Israel. Of course, not all criticism of Israel or the Israeli government is automatic anti-Semitism, but in certain cases this can be true, for examplewhen people are:
· Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
· Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democraticnation.
· Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesusor blood dragonfly) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
· Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
· Holding Jews collectively accountable for the actions of the State of Israel
Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of anti-Semitic materials in some countries).
Criminal acts are anti-Semitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property — such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries — are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews.
Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries.