At a Full Council meeting on 5 February 2020, councillors approved a motion regarding concerns in the rise of antisemitism in recent years across the UK and recommended that Peterborough City Council adopt The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in line with other public bodies and local authorities.
Statement
Peterborough City Council is rightly proud of its efforts to tackle discrimination and hatred in all its forms.
Peterborough City Council expresses concern about the rise in antisemitism in recent years across the UK. As well as physical manifestations through violence and criminal damage, it has also been seen in the use of antisemitic language and characteristics which criticise Israel. It may be legitimate to criticise the policies and practices of Israel, but not if this involves using language and imagery that is antisemitic.
Peterborough City Council therefore resolves to join with the Government, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Police and Judiciary, as well as other Local Authorities, in signing up to the internationally recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, which states that:
“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, towards Jewish Community institutions and religious facilities.”
The IHRA highlight manifestations as including:
- Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extreme view of religion.
- Making mendacious, dehumanising, demonizing or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective – such as, especially but not 12 exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other social 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 Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
- Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
- Accusing Jewish citizens as being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
- Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g. by claiming that the existence of the State of Israel is a racist endeavour.
- Applying double standards by requiring of it behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
- Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis.
- Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
- Holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel.
Full Council resolved to:
- Adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism as the working model for challenging and confronting incidents of this form of racism.
- Restate its condemnation of all forms of racism and hate in all its manifestations.
- Oppose racism and hate against all communities, in keeping with our commitment to eradicate all acts of hatred on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex or sexual orientation.