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Anti-Semitism: Official definition 'will fight hatred' Anti-Semitism: Official definition 'will fight hatred'
(about 4 hours later)
The government plans to adopt an international definition of anti-Semitism to help tackle hatred towards Jews. The government plans to adopt an international definition of anti-Semitism to help tackle hatred towards Jewish people.
Police, councils, universities and public bodies can adopt the wording, Theresa May will say in a speech later. Police, councils, universities and public bodies can adopt the wording, Theresa May has said.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which the UK belongs to, created the definition.The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which the UK belongs to, created the definition.
It calls anti-Semitism a "perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews." It calls anti-Semitism a "perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews".
Prime Minister Theresa May will argue that a clear definition means anyone guilty of anti-Semitism in "essence, language or behaviour" will be "called out on it". The definition adds: "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."
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance hopes its definition, agreed this year, will be adopted globally. The prime minister told a lunch of the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) in London that a clear definition would "call out" anyone guilty of anti-Semitism in "essence, language or behaviour".
It defines anti-Semitism as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews." The UK becomes the first country to adopt the IHRA's definition, which created the wording in May.
It adds: "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." 'Contested' definitions
Legally binding
Downing Street said anti-Semitic behaviour could be overlooked because the term is ill-defined, with different organisations adopting their own interpretations.Downing Street said anti-Semitic behaviour could be overlooked because the term is ill-defined, with different organisations adopting their own interpretations.
The IHRA - which is backed by 31 countries, including the UK, USA, Israel, France and Germany - set its working definition of what constituted anti-Semitic abuse in May. Police in the UK already use this definition, which was adopted by the EU's Agency for Fundamental Rights.
The group said having a "legally binding working definition" would give countries the "political tools" to deal with anti-Jewish hate crime. It could now be used by other bodies, such as councils and universities, although it will not be legally binding.
Conservative MP and special envoy for post-holocaust issues, Sir Eric Pickles, told the BBC that the new definition "catches up with modern anti-Semitism". Universities UK, the umbrella body for the sector, confirmed it was looking at the plans, saying that existing definitions were "variable and sometimes contested".
"I think it's important not to conflate Jewish people with Israel," he said. "That actually is the point in the definition." The IHRA - which is backed by 31 countries, including the UK, US, Israel, France and Germany - hopes the definition will be adopted globally as a "political tool" to deal with anti-Jewish hate crime.
'It is unacceptable' Mrs May said: "It is unacceptable that there is anti-Semitism in this country. It is even worse that incidents are reportedly on the rise.
Police in the UK already use a version of the definition. However, it will now also be used by other bodies, including councils. "As a government we are making a real difference and adopting this measure is a ground-breaking step."
Mrs May will say: "There will be one definition of anti-Semitism - in essence, language or behaviour that displays hatred towards Jews because they are Jews - and anyone guilty of that will be called out on it." 'Scourge' in society
She will add: "It is unacceptable that there is anti-Semitism in this country. It is even worse that incidents are reportedly on the rise." Sir Eric Pickles, the UK's envoy for post-Holocaust issues, told the BBC that the new definition addressed "modern" forms of anti-Semitism.
He said that holding Jewish people "accountable for what's happening in Israel" was one example.
"We've moved into a new phase of anti-Semitism, and it's important that definitions keep up," he said.
Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth, welcomed the move for tackling what he called a "scourge in our society".
"My hope is that the adoption of this definition will provide a clarity which will herald a far more effective discourse on the ways that we can highlight and challenge anti-Semitism wherever it is found," he added.
The Community Security Trust said the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK increased by 11% between January and June - from 500 in the same period last year, to 557 this year.
Last week, a man who subjected Labour MP Luciana Berger to an online campaign of anti-Semitic abuse was jailed for two years.Last week, a man who subjected Labour MP Luciana Berger to an online campaign of anti-Semitic abuse was jailed for two years.
It comes as the Community Security Trust said the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK increased by 11% between January and June - from 500 in the same period last year, to 557 this year. 'No excuses'
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said anti-Semitism must be understood for what it is - "an attack on the identity of people who live, contribute and are valued in our society". On Tuesday, the government will publish its response to the Home Affairs Select Committee's report into anti-Semitism, which in October called on political leaders to do more to tackle hate.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said anti-Semitism must be understood for what it was - "an attack on the identity of people who live, contribute and are valued in our society".
"There can be no excuses for anti-Semitism or any other form of racism or prejudice," he said."There can be no excuses for anti-Semitism or any other form of racism or prejudice," he said.
"Crimes must always be reported, and the law enforced, but we also want to create an environment that prevents hate crime from happening in the first place." Labour, which has faced accusations that it has failed to tackle anti-Semitism in its own membership, also welcomed the move.
'Repugnant'
Labour, which has faced accusations that it has failed to tackle anti-Semitism in its own membership, welcomed the move.
A spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said hatred towards Jews was "as repugnant and unacceptable as any other form of racism".A spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said hatred towards Jews was "as repugnant and unacceptable as any other form of racism".
Earlier this year Baroness Chakrabarti, the former director of civil liberties group Liberty, chaired an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the party.Earlier this year Baroness Chakrabarti, the former director of civil liberties group Liberty, chaired an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the party.
It found the party was not overrun by anti-Semitism or other forms of racism, but there was an "occasionally toxic atmosphere".It found the party was not overrun by anti-Semitism or other forms of racism, but there was an "occasionally toxic atmosphere".