Bayside Council to vote on antisemitism definition

Bayside City Council in Melbourne’s south east will vote Tuesday night on adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.

The move has attracted strong opposition from a small Jewish group, who say the IHRA definition is not in the best interests of Jewish people.

Councillor Robert Irlicht’s Motion 349 seeks council endorsement of the IHRA definition, which opponents claim conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

The motion follows a surge in antisemitic incidents across Victoria, with 552 recorded in 2024 – the highest annual total documented.

Recent local incidents include Jewish students subjected to antisemitic slurs at Melbourne Museum and the December firebombing of Adass Israel Synagogue in neighbouring Ripponlea.

However, the motion has drawn opposition from Jews for Justice Melbourne, a nine-member collective including three anonymous people.

In a letter to Bayside Mayor Hanna El Mouallem, the group warned the IHRA definition “will silence genuine and important political speech regarding Israel’s conduct, particularly in Gaza.”

The group, led by Rosie Heselev, argued the definition “perversely risks inciting the vilification of Jewish people who reject Zionism or criticise the state of Israel.”

They recommended the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism as an alternative, defining antisemitism as “discrimination, prejudice, hostility or violence against Jews as Jews.”

The group’s letter said Bayside constituents are entitled to freedom of political expression, and the motion may inadvertently limit political freedoms.

“We are also concerned that individuals and institutions may be monitored for compliance against this definition of antisemitism, whereby criticism of Israel could result in a myriad of consequences, such as being stripped of or not eligible for Bayside funding and/or support”.,

Councillor Irlicht strongly rejected these concerns, calling the letter’s claims “factually incorrect” and “dangerously obfuscating.”

He emphasised the motion addresses “hatred directed at Jews here in our city,” not Middle East politics.

“Motion 349 is about safeguarding our community from bigotry, not policing opinions on foreign policy,” Irlicht stated.

He dismissed fears about monitoring and funding cuts as “utter nonsense,” insisting no surveillance measures are proposed.

Irlicht urged councillors to “support the motion unreservedly,” calling IHRA adoption “a moral imperative.”

The motion also commits council to exploring strategies addressing antisemitism through leadership, community engagement and public education, while affirming Jewish community safety as “an integral part of Bayside.”

The council meeting begins at 6.30pm Tuesday at Brighton’s Civic Centre.