🇺🇸🇵🇸🗣️🚫🇮🇱 US Congress Dangerous Resolution redefining Antisemitism
Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism
Summary
A terrible outcome in Congress today with a poorly worded Resolution on the surface an indisputably GOOD thing “Against Antisemitism” but in the detail, taking clear advantage of the McCarthyite hysteria around Antisemitism and the upcoming Election Year - to push through new dangerous obfuscations to the definition.
We all agree true antisemitism is a BAD thing - but the definition MATTERS and this will stifle free speech. 🇺🇸🇵🇸🗣️🚫🇮🇱
Key points in the Resolution:
Anti-zionism is antisemitism (No shit - WTF?)
From The River to the Sea interpreted as calling for the destruction of the State of Israel
“Free Palestine”, “Free Gaza”, “Gaza will win” language implied as antisemitic
IHRA definition of antisemitism - which is open to interpretation - restated and presented as a Gold Standard
Who is going to argue the difference between a symbolic “Resolution” as opposed to a “Bill” which becomes law? A statement with definitive wording on antisemitism passed unanimously on the floor of the House of Representatives and will be referenced and considered the official position.
Read on for why it’s so bloody awful.
Contents
Introduction
A Resolution (not legally binding “bill”) - “Strongly condemning and denouncing the drastic rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world” - hear hear. Same for Islamophobia and all other race or religious hate. But hang on…. let’s read a few pages in… ⁉️🤔
It has been described as “a gotcha”, “GOP playing games”. There are good reasons outlined below why the declaration is dangerous for free speech (and quite frankly accuracy) but this sums it up:
Representative Hayley Stevens (Democrat, Michigan)
“They [GOP] do this because it confuses constituents, I don’t know how you would explain coherently why you woudn’t [appear to be] condemning antisemitism”
(COMMENT: 🗳️🇺🇸 in particular in an election year)
Further voices of concern on the Resolution:
Representative Jan Schakowsky (Democrat, Illinois) - who happens to be Jewish, noting the day before:
"Any kind of criticism of Israel at all could be deemed antisemitic…. I’m hoping we're not going to get any Democrats who are going to vote for that."
Representative Steny Hoyer (Democratic, Maryland) - most senior Democrat in the house:
"it's pretty clear that Hamas and others have made anti-Zionism a catchword for antisemitism, because they equate the two."
The problematic content of the Resolution
The Resolution introduced by David Kustoff (Republican Tennessee) Max Miller (Republican Ohio) H.RES 8941 was passed in Congress unanimously:2
Whilst the Resolution is eminently sensible calling for a crackdown on antisemitism and specifically listing some indisputable and disgusting examples of this (you could produce exactly the same thing for Islamophobia, Asian-hate etc.) - it also significantly proposes a reshaping of the definition of antisemitism which will impact pro-Palestinian voices in the US and beyond even further… key points:
Anti-Zionism is antisemitism: A truly awful statement. This implies all Jews (the collective targeting of which IS antisemitism) are Zionists which is logically never mind morally incorrect.
In Sep 2020 100 prominent US Jewish leaders from the Israel & Antisemitism task force3 wrote to the President recommending a collaboratively developed document specifically on antisemitism which noted “criticism of Zionism should NOT be deemed antisemitic”4.’
From The River To The Sea - INCORRECTLY interpreted as antisemitic: the slogan ‘‘From the River to the Sea’’, which is a rallying cry for the eradication of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, has been used by anti-Israel pro- testers in the United States and globally (see why it’s not antisemitic with examples here)
Language supporting freedom for Palestine implied as antisemitic: In the context of quite rightly criticising the defacing Jewish Medical tent in a March for Israel event in Washington - the graffiti is specifically listed implying the statements are antisemitic : ‘‘Free Gaza’’, ‘‘Palestine Will Be Free’’, and ‘‘Gaza Will Win’’
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemtism5 named as a “critical tool” - whereas the interpretation can also disallow criticism of the State of Israel as noted by multiple legal professionals, academics and advocacy groups.67
It is ironic that just yesterday I completed an article demonstrating the weaponisation of antisemitism as the definition stood then, as below:
On attending Sydney Pro-Palestine Rally 3 Dec: Themes: Silencing the voices through weaponising antisemitism and misrepresentation of the Pro-Palestine cause
In Conclusion
An absolutely terrible outcome for freedom of speech in the US in an environment that is already stifled from pro-Palestinian voices.
Technically it is a symbolic Resolution rather than a “Bill” which becomes law - but who will argue the detail of a statement with that wording passed on the floor of the House of Representatives?
It will be referred to thousands of times as the new gold standard and you can bet your bottom dollar pro-Israeli PR companies right now will be reprinting material with the headshots of Representatives voting for and more salaciously against the resolution.
🇺🇳 On 23 Nov the UN Human Rights organisation had to speak out on the bias, retribution seen globally on this - conflating support for Palestine with antisemitism8.
This is an awful outcome that will further drive the single narrative in the US.
To quote the eloquent John Oliver in 2021 and video below (talking at the time of the last disproportionate response by Israel):
Related Articles
Substack:
On attending Sydney Pro-Palestine Rally 3 Dec: Themes: Silencing the voices through antisemitism and misrepresentation of the Pro-Palestine cause
Pro-Israeli Lobby in the US - Hollywood, Academia, Congress & The UN
Antisemitism v Free Speech Statement: Statement on Antisemitism v Free Speech with review and examples of terminology and nuance (Substack article from original FB post 23 Nov)
Other:
John Oliver video 30 Oct with full transcript (original Sleekit Scotsman Facebook Post) - https://www.facebook.com/sleekit.scotsman2/posts/pfbid02wTJ2ig1ihDbRgM83J6TqDFRHXCsfNA6SVttLTRxgihWkV4YLodeQYv8StvqcYSnsl
House of Congress original Resolution document 5 Dec 2023 - https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hres894/BILLS-118hres894ih.pdf
Forbes 5 Dec 2023 “House Passes Resolution Declaring Anti-Zionism A Form Of Antisemitism—Some Democrats Are Critical“ - https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/12/05/house-passes-resolution-declaring-anti-zionism-a-form-of-antisemitism-some-democrats-are-critical/?sh=582fc4791e74
Israel & Antisemitism Task Force - Sep 2020 - https://israelandantisemitism.com/nexus-task-force/
Israel & Antisemitism Nexus Document - Sep 2020 - https://israelandantisemitism.com/the-nexus-document/
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance website: Working definition of antisemitism - https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism
2021 joint statement on antisemitism from the Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) and the APAN - Australia Palestine Advocacy Network: https://ajds.org.au/antisemitism-3/
Geoffrey Robertson AO KC (one of the world's foremost human rights lawyers) - Legal Opinion on issues with the UK Government 2016 acceptance of IHRA definition: https://prc.org.uk/upload/library/files/Anti-Semitism_Opinion_03.09.18eds.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1JGAkofecdSgKEyTo8OhhantJKJZeGVconpx5V4sIsjJIThZK1s0ZJDF8
UN Press Release 23 Nov “Speaking out on Gaza / Israel must be allowed: UN experts“ - https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/11/speaking-out-gaza-israel-must-be-allowed-un-experts