HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2023-17 Recognizing Antisemitism and Adopting IHRA Working Definition RESOLUTION 2023-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION IN THE CITY OF
WINTER SPRINGS, SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
RECOGNIZING THE GROWING PROBLEM OF
ANTISEMITISM IN AMERICA AND ADOPTING THE
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE ALLIANCE
WORKING DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM AS AN
IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO ADDRESS IT;
PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION;AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived Jewish origin,
ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation, or faith, remains a persistent, pervasive, and disturbing problem in
American society; and
WHEREAS, the Jewish community continues to be a targeted minority in the United States and is
consistently the most likely of all religious groups to be victimized by incidents of hate,and such incidents
are increasing at an alarming rate; and
WHEREAS,the deadliest attack against the American Jewish community took place on October 27,2018,
at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania,killing eleven worshippers and injuring several
more; and
WHEREAS, state officials and institutions have a responsibility to protect citizens from acts of hate and
bigotry, including Antisemitism, and must be given the tools to do so; and
WHEREAS,valid monitoring, informed analysis and investigation,and effective policymaking all benefit
from accurate and uniform definitions; and
WHEREAS,in May 2016,the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance(the"IHRA"),by consensus
vote of its member states, including the United States,adopted a working definition of Antisemitism,which
has become the internationally recognized,authoritative definition for use by governments and international
organizations; and
WHEREAS,the IHRA's working definition of Antisemitism is that, "Antisemitism is a certain perception
of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of
Antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their prope 1 iy, [and] toward
Jewish community institutions and religious facilities" (the "IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism");
and
WHEREAS, the following statement has served as an illustration of Antisemitism to guide the IHRA in
its work: "Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish
collectivity.However,criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded
as Anti-Semitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often
used to blame Jews for "why things go wrong." It is expressed in speech,writing,visual forms and action,
and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits."; and
WHEREAS, contemporary examples of Antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace,
and in the religious sphere could,taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:
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Resolution 2023-17
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1) Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an
extremist view of religion;
2) Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the
power of Jews as a collective - such as, but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or
of Jews controlling the media, economy, government, or other societal institutions;
3)Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single
Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews;
4)Denying the fact, scope,mechanisms(e.g. gas chambers),or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish
people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War
II(the Holocaust);
5)Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust;
6) Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide,
than to the interests of their own nations;
7)Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,e.g.,by claiming that the existence of a State
of Israel is a racist endeavor;
8) Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other
democratic nation;
9) Using the symbols and images associated with classic Antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus
or blood libel)to characterize Israel or Israelis;
10) Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of National Socialist Germany; and
11) Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
WHEREAS, Anti-Semitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the
Holocaust or distribution of Anti-Semitic materials in some countries); and
WHEREAS, criminal acts are Anti-Semitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or
property, such as buildings, schools,places of worship and cemeteries, are selected because they are, or are
perceived to be,Jewish or linked to Jews; and
WHEREAS, Anti-Semitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to
others and is illegal in many countries; and
WHEREAS, the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism has proven to be an essential tool used to
determine contemporary manifestations of Antisemitism; and
WHEREAS, in January 2019, the Combating European Antisemitism Act of 2017 was signed into law,
which outlines how combating Antisemitism is in the national interest of the United States; and
WHEREAS, in the United States, the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism is utilized by various
government and law enforcement agencies in monitoring, training, and education, including the U.S.
Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education; and
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WHEREAS, to ensure that freedom of speech is maintained in the context of discourse about Israel and
Palestine, without allowing Antisemitism to permeate any debate, the City Commission wishes to clarify
that it is not Anti-Semitic to criticize the government of Israel,without additional evidence to suggest Anti-
Semitic intent, and it is not Anti-Semitic to hold the Israeli government to the same standards as other
liberal democracies, or to take a particular interest in the Israeli government's policies or actions, without
addition evidence to suggest Anti-Semitic intent.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
WINTER SPRINGS,SEMINOLE COUNTY,FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.Recitals.That each of the above-stated recitals are hereby adopted,confirmed,and incorporated
herein.
Section 2.Adoption. That the City Commission adopts the non-legally binding IHRA working definition
of Antisemitism, including the eleven contemporary examples.
Section 3. Implementation. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to take all action necessary to
implement this Resolution to ensure that the H-IRA working definition of Antisemitism is available as an
educational resource for the City to address Antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.
Section 4.Effective Date.This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, in a regular meeting assembled on
the 20'of April,2023. V.
KEVIN McCANN,Mayor
ATTEST: 441N�s
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odd
CHRISTIAN GOWAN,City Clerk o�h
Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for
the City of ' ter Springs only:
ANTHONY A. GARGANESE,City Attorney
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