Key reports and articles
The IHRA definition of antisemitism, with its attendant examples, is extremely controversial. This definition and the illustrative examples attached to it which conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, have been heavily criticised
by a range of legal experts, academics, and civil society groups. These critiques have produced a number of studies, articles, and documents which are available below.
The Malmo Forum 2021
Reports analysing the use and impact of the IHRA definition of antisemitism
- Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom in UK Higher Education: The Adverse Impact of the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, European Legal Support Centre and British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (June 2023)
- Suppressing Palestinian Rights Advocacy through the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism – Violating the Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in the European Union and the UK, European Legal Support Centre (June 2023)
- Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations, Arab Canadian Lawyers Association (April 2022)
Analysis and opinion on IHRA definition of antisemitism’s impact on Palestinian rights
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign statement on ELSC-BRISMES report (PSC, Sept. 2023)
- IHRA used by UK universities leading to ‘unreasonable’ accusations (Guardian, Sept. 2023)
- IHRA antisemitism definition ‘undermining academic freedom’ (The Times, Sept. 2023)
- Redefining antisemitism on Facebook (Al Jazeera, Sept. 2022)
- How Israel Is Harming the War on Antisemitism (Haaretz, Jan. 2021)
- Palestinian rights and the IHRA definition of antisemitism (Guardian, Nov. 2020)
- Fault lines in the fight against racism and antisemitism, by Liz Fekete of the Institute of Race Relations (Institute of Race Relations, 2020)
- Distorting the definition of antisemitism to shield Israel from all criticism (+972 Magazine, Aug. 2019)
- As BAME communities, we stand united against attempts to suppress our voices (Independent, Aug. 2018)
Jewish organisational responses
- Progressive Israel Network Groups Oppose Codification of IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, Citing Strong Potential for Misuse
- Americans for Peace Now Letter to Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Regarding the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism
- 40 Jewish groups worldwide condemning definition
- Independent Jewish Voices Canada’s video “4 reasons Why You Should Oppose the IHRA’s definition of Antisemitism
- 128 scholars warn: ‘Don’t trap the United Nations in a vague and weaponized definition of antisemitism’
Kenneth Stern (lead author of the definition) on why the IHRA definition should not be used by government agencies:
- Will Campus Criticism of Israel Violate Federal Law?
- I drafted the definition of antisemitism. Rightwing Jews are weaponising it
- Jewish Voice for Labour’s “Why the Man who drafted the IHRA definition condemns its use
Academics and legal experts’ opposition to the IHRA definition
- University College London Report of the Academic Board Working Group on Racism and Prejudice
- Joint letter of 56 scholars to Facebook: Don’t adopt the “IHRA definition of antisemitism
- A call from Jewish academics to French MPs
- Israeli Academics and Artists Warn Against Equating anti-Zionism With anti-Semitism
- The IHRA Definition of Antisemitism: Denying Antisemitism by Erasing Palestinians
- Distorted Definition: Redefining Antisemitism to Silence Advocacy for Palestinian Rights
- Defining Antisemitism – Sir Stephen Sedley
- The government should not impose a faulty definition of antisemitism on universities – David Feldman
- UCU Congress 2021 rejection of IHRA definition of antisemitism