104 human rights and civil rights organizations have warned the United Nations against using or endorsing a definition of "anti-Semitism" that they say could be used to silence criticism of the Israeli government and stifle advocacy of Palestinian rights.
The joint letter urged the UN to respect human rights in the fight against "anti-Semitism," avoid the flawed definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Coalition, and warned that the coalition's definition of anti-Semitism could "inadvertently encourage or endorse policies and laws that undermine criticism of Israeli government policies."
They warned that if the UN adopts the definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Coalition, governments and courts could misuse it to restrict criticism of Israeli government policies, creating a "chilling effect on freedom of expression."
The signatories of the joint letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Under-Secretary-General Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and the main role in monitoring anti-Semitism, said: "Legitimate criticism of Israel's human rights policies must not be suppressed."
The letter also warned that "the adoption or endorsement by the United Nations of the definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Coalition will pose serious risks to the human rights of Palestinians."
The letter comes at a time when the UN is currently developing an action plan for a "coordinated and strengthened response to deep-rooted anti-Semitism in human rights". As part of this, some member states of the international organization have pushed for the adoption of a practical, non-legally binding definition of anti-Semitism proposed and adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Coalition.
Several experts in anti-Semitism and Jewish studies — as well as Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights groups — challenged the definition, which has been used to stifle debate and criticism of the Israeli government's human rights record.
"Developing a comprehensive plan to tackle anti-Semitism around the world is of vital importance, but the UN's endorsement or endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Coalition's definition would pose serious risks to the human rights of Palestinians and to the right to freedom of expression globally," said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Director.
It also warned that "if the UN adopts or endorses the definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Coalition, it will encourage governments to restrict legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies and stifle growing calls to end Israel's apartheid regime on Palestinians."
Among the human rights organizations that signed the letter are Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Palestinian organizations such as Al-Haq and Al-Mezan, Israeli organizations such as B'Tselem and Breaking the Silence, and several international and national Jewish groups, such as Jewish Voice for Peace and Judaism and the Palestine Network.