This Council:
1. Abhors racism in all forms.
2. Notes the decision of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to join with the government and other local authorities across the UK in signing up to the internationally recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism on 3rd June 2019.
The IHRA working definition states;
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish Community institutions and religious facilities.
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.
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:
· Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
· Making mendacious, dehumanising, 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.
· 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.
· 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)
· Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
· Accusing Jewish citizens as being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations
· Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g. by claiming that the existence of the State of Israel is a racist endeavour.
· Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
· Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis.
· Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis
· Holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel."
This Council therefore resolves to:
1. Restate its condemnation of all forms of racism in all its manifestations
2. Adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism as the working model for challenging and confronting incidents of this form of racism.
Mover:- Councillor Read Seconder:- Councillor Watson
Minutes:
Proposed by Councillor Read and seconded by Councillor Watson:-
This Council:-
1. Abhors racism in all forms.
2. Notes the decision of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to join with the government and other local authorities across the UK in signing up to the internationally recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism on 3rd June 2019.
The IHRA working definition states;
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish Community institutions and religious facilities.
Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectively. However, criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic. 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.
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:
· Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
· Making mendacious, dehumanising, 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.
· 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.
· 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)
· Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
· Accusing Jewish citizens as being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations
· Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g. by claiming that the existence of the State of Israel is a racist endeavour.
· Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
· Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis.
· Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis
· Holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel."
This Council therefore resolves to:
1. Restate its condemnation of all forms of racism in all its manifestations
2. Adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism as the working model for challenging and confronting incidents of this form of racism.
On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
(Councillors Alam, Albiston, Allcock, Allen, The Mayor (Councillor Andrews), Atkin, Beaumont, Beck, Bird, Brookes, Carter, Clark, Cooksey, Cowles, Cusworth, B. Cutts, D. Cutts, J. Elliot, M. Elliott, R. Elliott, Ellis, Fenwick-Green, Hoddinott, Ireland, Jarvis, Jepson, Jones, Keenan, Khan, Lelliott, Mallinder, Marles, Marriott, McNeely, Napper, Pitchley, Read, Reeder, Roche, Rushforth, Sansome, Sheppard, Short, Steele, Taylor, John Turner, Julie Turner, Tweed, Vjestica, Walsh, Watson, Williams, Wilson and Wyatt voted in favour of the proposals)