Georgia House passes antisemitism definition

The Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. Credit: Susanne Pommer/Shutterstock.

(JNS) — The Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism.

House Bill 1274 passed on Feb. 28 with a vote of 141-19, with six abstaining. The resolution, which was sponsored by six lawmakers, in part requires state agencies and departments to consider the IHRA definition “when determining whether an alleged act was motivated by discriminatory anti-Semitic intent.”

HB 1274 faced opposition from a group of Jews in Georgia who wrote an opinion piece for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in which they called on the House to reject the resolution. They claimed the IHRA definition restricts criticism of Israel and “has become a powerful tool in the hands of those who work to silence Palestinian voices.”

The IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism states: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

It also states that legitimate criticism of Israel, similar to that against any other country, can not be considered antisemitism.