In 2018, Palestinian civil society issued a call (1)
urging the UK Labour Party and trade unions to reject the IHRA working definition
of antisemitism which seeks to conflate antisemitism with criticism of Israel.
The examples used in this non-legally binding definition are increasingly (2)
being used to silence criticism of Israeli policies that clearly violate
Palestinian human rights. Accepted by the UK Government in 2016, the definition
is also being adopted by an increasing number of local authorities,
universities and public bodies, despite legal opinions declaring the definition
not fit for purpose (3,4).
ATUC endorses the call by Palestinian workers for trade
unions to reject the IHRA definition of anti-semitism with its ‘examples’ that
act to conflate anti-semitism with criticism of Israel. This definition is
being used to try to criminalise the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
campaign, and activists who campaign for Palestinian rights. The 2018 report on
racial harassment commissioned by Scottish Government concluded that “hostility
towards a political entity” should not be considered a hate crime and that “The
right to engage in legitimate political protest is fundamental in a democratic
society.” Trade unionists should act to show our Palestinian comrades that we
will not be deterred from calling out the crimes of the Israeli state, and the
denial of Palestinian rights.