Alaska said to become 25th state to adopt IHRA definition of antisemitism

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announces that his state will be adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, becoming the 25th state to do so, the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations says in a statement.

“The fact that 25 states and the District of Columbia, and other major cities, over 30 countries, hundreds of universities, sports teams, and governmental bodies have adopted the IHRA Working Definition as a tool identifying antisemitism reflects the broad support that exists for the most authoritative and internationally accepted definition of antisemitism, as well as the widespread view that it is critically important to recognize antisemitism in order to combat it successfully,” the Conference of Presidents says.

Advocates for the definition, which was first published in 2016, say having a clear and common definition of antisemitism is helpful in identifying Jew-hatred. But its critics say it stifles free speech by identifying some forms of Israel criticism as antisemitic.