The UK government is reportedly prepared to adopt a binding definition of anti-Semitism.
The 'Jewish Chronicle' wrote on Monday that calling Israel an inherently racist country, or making comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany, would be considered anti-Semitic under that definition.
Prime Minister Theresa May agreed to adopt the definition that was recently adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an intergovernmental agency of 31 Western countries. The definition says that anti-Semitism “might include the targeting of the State of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity” though “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic.”
The examples section of the definition includes classic forms of Jew hatred such as “stereotypical allegations about Jews as such” and spreading conspiracy theories about Jews, as well as calls to harm Jews.
In a private lunch with the Conservative Friends of Israel, Theresa Maywas expected to say: "Israel guarantees the rights of people of all religions, races and sexualities, and it wants to enable everyone to flourish. Our aim in Britain is the same: to create a better, fairer society, helping everyone to reach as far as their talents will allow.
"It is unacceptable that there is anti-Semitism in this country. It is even worse that incidents are reportedly on the rise. As a government we are making a real difference and adopting this measure is a ground-breaking step.
"It means there will be one definition of anti-Semitism - in essence, language or behavior that displays hatred towards Jews because they are Jews - and anyone guilty of that will be called out on it."
