Shameful rejection of IHRA definition
ABC and SBS criticised after refusing to adopt the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism.
The decision by ABC and SBS to reject the IHRA working definition of antisemitism is a disgrace.
The IHRA definition has been adopted by 47 governments throughout the world, regional and local governments, universities, NGOs and other civil society organisations.
It has been adopted by our own government and by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
Indeed, British antisemitism expert Dr Dave Rich told the Royal Commission last week that it is an essential tool.
Imagine the broadcasters rejecting an internationally recognised definition of a hatred against any other minority community. It wouldn’t happen.
Despite what some detractors say, the definition does not weaponise antisemitism against legitimate criticism of Israel.
As Rich noted, it clearly states that “criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic”, but people who should know better “ignore that sentence completely”.
While we’re at it, we’re not giving Australia’s universities a free pass either for their failure, as found in Greg Craven’s report, to be able to define antisemitism.
But the universities have a far more complex job, with many more moving parts as it were, to identify and respond to the world’s oldest hatred. ABC and SBS need only not engage in it.
But we have all seen the skewed activist reporting by both but particularly Aunty. We have seen the obsessive focus on Israel, the reliance on Hamas casualty figures, the stacked anti-Israel panels, the reporting of unconfirmed hearsay as fact and the scepticism applied to Israeli sources.
None of this could be considered legitimate criticism similar to that levelled against another country. The ABC should be honest: It does not merely criticise Israel, it demonises it. Repeatedly. And Australian Jews pay the price. In the first Royal Commission hearing block, we heard harrowing stories of Jewish individuals being singled out, othered, abused and bullied because of their legitimate ties to and belief in the existence of the Jewish homeland.
ABC and SBS have just indicated their intention to continue contributing negatively to the heated environment that inspired their tormentors.
The management of both taxpayer-funded broadcasters should hang their heads in absolute shame.