Agenda item

Four valid Motions on Notice, signed by at least three Members of the Council, have been received for consideration at this meeting.

It was moved by Councillor G Westwater and seconded by Councillor L Bones that: 

On the 27th September 2017 Council agreed to sign up to the non-legally binding International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of Antisemitism, and the supporting guidelines. This was subsequently adopted within the Council's Equality and Diversity Policy. With Holocaust Memorial Day just a few days away and with many new faces in the Chamber we are asking for Councillors elected after September 2017 and those that were not able to be present to be given the opportunity to show our support for this definition and for the remaining Councillors to reaffirm their support.

We request Council votes to endorse and reaffirm our commitment to the IHRA’s definition of Antisemitism.

This will send a clear message that Antisemitism will not be tolerated within North Tyneside Council. 

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Definition of Antisemitism and supporting guidelines state:

 “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to: 

·       Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion. 

·       Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions. 

·       Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews. 

·       Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust). 

·       Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. 

·       Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations. 

·       Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour. 

·       Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation. 

·       Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis. 

·       Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis. 

·       Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel. 

The Motion, on being put to the meeting, was approved unanimously.