US leads countries adopting new guidelines for combatting antisemitism

The United States leads 33 other countries in adopting global guidelines for countering antisemitism during a gathering of antisemitism envoys from around the globe in Buenos Aires, Argentina where they will be attending an event marking the 30th anniversary of the AMIA terrorist attack.

“This comprehensive framework, crafted through months of collaboration among special envoys worldwide, lays out essential ‘best practices’ to combat Jew hatred effectively,” says US envoy for combating antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt, calling on more countries and international groups to join in the effort.

The legally non-binding guidelines include policies to monitor and combat antisemitism that can be implemented and adapted to a wide variety of national, regional, and cultural contexts.

The guidelines are as follows: speak out, avoid politicization, adopt and implement, appoint and empower, understand and define, protect, collect, enforce, educate, cultivate a whole-of-society commitment, engage social media, and strengthen international collaboration.

The initiative recognizes the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and notes that over 40 countries and hundreds of organizations have adopted it. However, the guidelines don’t go as far as to call on countries to follow suit. Some progressive groups argue that the definition’s examples are being used to stifle criticism of Israel.

The initiative is adopted by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the Council of Europe, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Ecuador, Estonia, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Organization of American States, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.