Agenda item

The administration motion in the name of Councillor Roberto Weeden-Sanz was amended, as outlined in the supplement agenda, to become a joint motion with Councillor Barry Rawlings.

The joint motion in the name of Councillor Roberto Weeden-Sanz and Councillor Barry Rawlings was put to the vote.

Votes were recorded as follows:

The votes were recorded as follows

RESOLVED that

This Council notes that the joint motion in the name of Councillor Roberto Weeden-Sanz and Councillor Barry Rawlings be agreed.

This Council notes that

1.    Barnet Council adopted the working definition of antisemitism proposed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in January 2017.

2.    Barnet Council was the first local authority in the country to adopt such a definition.

3.    Since Barnet Council’s adoption, best practice has been to adopt the IHRA definition examples alongside the definition proper.

4.    The motion of January 2017 was proposed by the late Councillor Gordon.

This Council believes that:

1.    It is right to take this opportunity to bring our definition up to date in line with current best practice, and to reaffirm our own commitment to fighting hatred and religious intolerance.

2.    In recognition of Cllr Gordon’s campaigning against antisemitism, this should be done in his memory.

3.    The ‘examples’ that illustrate antisemitism can help clarify what is and is not antisemitic to those without a full understanding of the many ways in which this hate crime is perpetrated.

This Council resolves to:

1.    Adopt the following illustrative examples of antisemitism, as set out by IHRA:

a.    Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. 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.

b.    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:

                                               i.     Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

                                             ii.     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.

                                           iii.     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 non-Jews.

                                           iv.     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).

                                             v.     Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

                                           vi.     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.

                                          vii.     Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.

                                        viii.     Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

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

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

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

c.    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).

d.    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.

e.    Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries.

The meeting ended at 9.59pm