A particularly serious attack on our freedom of expression is currently being played out between Tel Aviv, Vienna, Brussels... and Paris.
The European Council, which will bring together EU heads of state and government officials this coming Thursday and Friday, is preparing to endorse a "Declaration on the fight against anti-Semitism and the development of a common security approach to better protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe" : nothing wrong with this, of course, as the fight against anti-Semitism and other forms of racism is a cause that we share.
But this Declaration is also an opportunity to insidiously appeal to Member States to adopt the "IHRA definition" of anti-Semitism. This definition is not only fundamentally flawed, but is furthermore "illustrated" by "examples," the purpose of which is to equate any criticism of the State of Israel and its policies with anti-Semitism. The implementation of this definition endangers freedom of expression and assembly, as demonstrated by the example of the United Kingdom, whose government "adopted" the IHRA definition in 2016.
The French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) took a clear position against this definition in its annual report published in May 2018, citing the universality of the fight against racism and the highly problematic nature of this definition and its respective examples.
Over the course of 5 months of secret negotiations under Austria’s EU presidency, the Israeli government has been particularly active in the finalization of this Declaration.
On behalf of the France Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS), AFPS President Bertrand Heilbronn has addressed French President Emmanuel Macron: "Mr. President, on this anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, you must no longer remain passive in the face of this attack on our freedom of expression. Next Friday, the European Council must make it clear that the highly controversial "examples" associated with the "IHRA definition" of anti-Semitism are not included in the Declaration that the Council is about to adopt. It is your responsibility to act in accordance with this objective and to achieve it."
At a time when vivre ensemble [1] and peaceful dialogue are in the national spotlight, the AFPS’ vision of solidarity with the Palestinian people – a secular, non-community-related vision, based on international law – is a necessary part of the solution. Conversely, community-based organizations that encourage conflation of anti-Semitism with any legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and its policies are continuing to play a particularly dangerous game that they have played for many years.
It is up the French President take responsibility. He must act with urgency because the European Council meets on Thursday and Friday. Our freedom and national unity are at stake.
The AFPS Executive Board
10 December 2018