World Jewish News

All EU member states should adopt the working definition of anti-Semitism

Bulgaria announced this week that it will join Britain, Germany, Austria and Romania in adopting the working definition of anti-Semitism of the International Holocaust Rembrance Alliance.

The Bulgarian government also appointed a Deputy Foreign Minister to become a National Coordinator on combating anti-Semitism. The minister, Georg Georgiev, wil liaise and interact with the European Commission’s Coordinator on Combating Anti-Semitism - Katharina von Schnurbein- and other EU national coordinators, with other partner countries as well as with international organizations with relevance and activities in the fight against anti-Semitism and hate speech, such as the UN, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Council of Europe, Unesco....

David Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and AJC Europe director Simone Rodan-Benzaquen met with Georgiev on Tuesday.

The Shalom Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria welcomed the Cabinet decision, noting that it put Bulgaria among the first countries to heed the European Parliament’s call to formally adopt the working definition of anti-Semitism and name a national co-ordinator.

Next year, Bulgaria will officially celebrate the 75th anniversary of the prevention of the deportation of the Bulgarian Jews and the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The European Jewish Congress (EJC) welcomed Bulgarian decision. “We are delighted that more and more European nations are adopting the official definition of anti-Semitism,” said EJC President Moshe Kantor. ‘’It is vital that, especially as anti-Semitism is on the rise across the continent, that governments, judiciaries and law enforcement agencies have all the necessary tools to combat hatred of Jews and other minorities.”

“We hope that all European Union countries and others will eventually adopt the definition so there is a continental standard and anti-Semites will know which lines they dare not cross.”

The definition of anti-Semitism, adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in Bucharest in May 2016, states: “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.”

The European Parliament adopted the definition last June in a resolution which called on all EU countries and EU institutions to adopt and implement it. This should be done to support the efforts of judicial authorities and law enforcement authorities to more effectively identify and prosecute anti-Semitic acts.

The document also called on EU countries to appoint national anti-Semitism co-ordinators and to take measures to build and strengthen partnerships, consultations and dialogue with Jewish communities and institutions to ensure the security of their Jewish citizens and Jewish religious, educational and cultural institutions, promote the study and commemoration of the Holocaust.

Based in Berlin, the IRHA has 31 member states.

EJP