Criticizing Israel is not antisemitic!

The proposed definitions of antisemitism risk conflating criticism of the Israeli government's policies with hatred towards the Jewish people as a whole. This overbreadth threatens to chill free speech and legitimate opposition to the Israeli government's actions. A well-constructed definition must clearly distinguish between antisemitic hate speech targeting the Jewish people and protected political speech critical of a nation's policies. Equating all Jewish people with the state of Israel promotes an offensive stereotype and undermines efforts to address genuine antisemitism. We urge the rejection of definitions that encompass constitutionally-protected speech calling for changes to Israeli policies or challenging its governmental actions. Protecting free expression while combating hate is vital to upholding civil liberties for all.

First sent on May 1 by BlueCollarJew