Zionism Forums - Zionist and Israel discussion

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This is from:
http://eumc.eu.int/eumc/material/pub/AS/AS-WorkingDefinition-draft.pdf

The document is write protected so it can't be changed, but for those wanting to quote from it (which I've had to do a lot lately!) it is below in text format.

WORKING DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM

The purpose of this document is to provide a practical guide for identifying incidents, collecting data, and supporting the implementation and enforcement of legislation dealing with antisemitism.
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 non­Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.''

In addition, such manifestations could also target the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for ``why things go wrong.'' It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:
Calling for, aiding, or justifying 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 non­Jews.

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 of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.


Examples of the ways in which antisemitism manifests itself with regard to the state of Israel taking into account the overall context could include:

Denying the Jewish people their right to self­determination, 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
democratic nation.

Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.

Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries). Criminal acts are antisemitic 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.

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On a related note, people may find further definitions useful. One related definition that causes as much confusion as antisemitism is the definition of Zionism and the definition of anti-Zionism.

Various Zionism definitions can be seen here:
http://www.zionismontheweb.org/zionism_definitions.htm
_________________
Zionism On the Web

[CIFWatcher]

To save you time, if you are challenged that this is only a 'working definition':

‘Working definition’ means (to the best of my researches) that it has not yet been ratified by the 27 EU governments. However it has been approved by the Management Board of the EUMC (now EUAFR), which includes 27 members independent but appointed by the 27 governments. Governments are unlikely to take a different view.

Those who assert the opposite are implicitly saying that the definition is inconvenient for their agenda.

Letter to me from EUMC:

Thank you for your email to our acting Director, Mr Constantinos Manolopoulos, on 29 January 2008, in which you inquire about the "Working Definition of Antisemitism", published by the EUMC.

This document, which has been made available on our website for discussion purposes, was a product of work between the EUMC (the predecessor of the Fundamental Rights Agency), ODIHR/OSCE and some Jewish NGOs. As explained at the time of publication, the working definition was seen as a work in progress which required testing and comment by a variety of actors in relation to its practical use and effectiveness to support data collection. The feedback of the initial testing and comments drew attention to a number of issues which impacted on the effectiveness of the working definition as a data collection support tool.

The EUMC due to the transformation process to the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) has not yet had the opportunity to follow up on the feedback. FRA does plan to follow up on the feedback in the near future. Once the follow up process has been completed FRA will discuss with ODIHR/OSCE and others its plans for further action.

FRA has yet to appoint a Director and its Scientific Committee - both of which are seen as crucial to taking this process forward.

At the time of publication, the EUMC highlighted that the working definition is being developed as a practical tool to support data collection and does not have any legal implications.

For more background, see the information on the bottom of the relevant webpage at:
http://www.fra.europa.eu/eumc/index.php?fuseaction=content.dsp_cat_content&catid=41efd2eb5263f#1

I hope this helps answer your questions and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have further questions related to this matter.

Kind regards,
Andreas Accardo
Communication and External Relations
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Rahlgasse 3
A-1060 Vienna
Tel: +43 1 58030-633
Fax: + 43 1 58030-693
Visit the FRA website at: http://fra.europa.eu[/url]

[Adrian Wainer]

Well if this is anything to do with the European Union and it seems that it is. I would treat it with healthy degree of suspicion. The objective of the European Union, is to strip the constituent Sovereign States of the European Union of their Sovereign powers and reduce national Parliaments such as e.g. the British Parliament to assemblies that powers go no further than deciding opening hours for public libraries and what days refuse bins are collected, whilst concentrating all power in Brussels. I would not call the European Union Single Fascist State Project anti-Semitic, in the sense it does not seem to have an organic problem with Jews, it merely is tactically expedient that as the European Union EU, ( or the European Union Single Fascist State Project EUSFSP as it should be more accurately referred to ), seeks to align itself with the international Islamofascist block, that it would be in favor of the destruction of the State of Israel and the extermination and or expulsion of people of both the Jewish faith and racial origin within the borders of the EUSFSP.

(ADMIN EDIT: Links to UKIP removed)

Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer