Equal Protection in New York: Combating Hatred Against Jews and the IHRA Definition

America's Declaration of Independence guarantees that all people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is emphasized that this ideal must apply equally to Jews, just like everyone else. However, today Jews are in danger in their places of worship, schools, universities, on the internet, and even in public spaces. This ancient form of hatred, known as antisemitism, has metastasized by adapting and changing to the modern age. Recalling that racism is prejudice and discrimination against a minority or marginalized group, the writers state that hatred towards Jews is clearly a form of racism as well. Those subjected to racism have the right to define and understand how and in what ways the hatred directed at them manifests.

One of the most important international issues on the agenda is the possibility of America entering a war against Iran and Israel's position as an ally in this process. While criticizing American foreign policy is accepted as a democratic right, there are serious concerns regarding the fine line between this and criticisms of Israel crossing into the dimension of antisemitism. A survey recently published by the Pew Research Center shows that Americans' negative views towards Israel have increased compared to last year, reaching 60 percent. Additionally, it is noted that the credibility of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu regarding doing the right thing in world affairs has also declined. It is particularly noteworthy that the majority of both political parties under the age of 50 hold a negative opinion about Israel and Netanyahu. In this environment, warnings are made that claims by some political figures that the war was started at Israel's request feed anti-Jewish sentiments deeply.

In this context, clarifying the distinction between legitimate political criticism and antisemitism is of great importance. The Gulf Region Jewish Community Relations Council states that the actions of every country's government can be criticized and that this is naturally not considered antisemitic. However, since Israel is the only Jewish state in the world, it is expressed that such criticisms can turn into hate speech when they are weaponized with antisemitic tropes and stereotypes. The writers define Zionism not as a philosophy of occupation, but as the right of Jews, like other peoples, to live safely in their ancestral homeland. While criticizing the actions of the Israeli government is a legitimate right, it is emphasized that baseless accusations such as apartheid or genocide poison public opinion and fuel violence against Jews. It is stated that while the right of all other nations to exist is recognized, denying only Israel's is blatant antisemitism.

It is pointed out that throughout history, Jews have been blamed sometimes because they were poor and sometimes because they were seen as privileged. Once racially belittled, this community is now misleadingly characterized as a white colonial oppressor. The writers argue that although the costume of hatred changes, its target remains the same, and that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism is a critical tool to expose this dangerous pattern. The IHRA definition helps expose anti-Jewish animus disguised as political disputes. In this context, it is noted that the recognition of the IHRA definition in the New York state at the federal level and by executive order is an important step, but the law needs to be codified.

In this regard, it is expressed that a bill discussed in the New York State Legislature aims to incorporate the IHRA's recommendation set into state laws. According to the writers, the approval of this legal regulation will send a clear message that New York has officially endorsed this vital tool. This piece, written by the Holocaust Remembrance and Tolerance Nassau County President Alan Mindel and State Assembly Member Charles Lavine, emphasizes that the adoption of the IHRA definition is not merely of symbolic importance. It is argued that this step must be taken for the concept of equal rights to truly mean equality and for the vision of the Declaration of Independence to be kept alive. Consequently, New York state's codification of the IHRA definition in the context of protecting all its people and fighting hate crimes is brought to the agenda as an urgent necessity.