State Department Definition of Anti-Semitism

What is anti-Semitism?

With anti-Semitic ideology on the rise globally, the word has increasingly become a part of today’s dialogue, but what does it mean?

Simply put, anti-Semitism is racism, bigotry, or discrimination against Jews on the basis of their religion. Hatred of Jews is no new phenomenon, but we have seen anti-Semites energized in recent years by new developments in technology that allow them to spread their hate more easily online.

Because anti-Semitism is racism, there can be no room for confusion regarding what is and is not anti-Semitic. In attempt to make that clear Then-President Barack Obama had his state department create a memo defining and giving examples of anti-Semitism in 2010. (Seen Below)

Sadly, we are still seeing anti-Semitic language being used in our daily lives from the darkest depths of the internet, to college campuses, and even in the halls of congress.

Defeat Anti-Semitism and its members are calling on the Democratic National Committee to adopt this definition of anti-Semitism, and to hold those who use anti-Semitic tropes accountable for their actions.


Defining anti-Semitism

“Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

SOME EXAMPLES OF ANTI-SEMITISM

  • Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews (often 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 a collective—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, the state of Israel, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
  • 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 interest of their own nations.

ISRAEL AND ANTI-SEMITISM

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

  • Demonizing Israel
    • Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis
  • Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis
  • Blaming Israel for all inter-religious or political tensions
  • Double Standard for Israel
    • Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation
    • Multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations
  • Delegitimizing Israel
    • Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, and denying Israel the right to exist

Source: President Obama’s State Department  https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/fs/2010/122352.htm