Press Release - Adoption by the French National Assembly of the IHRA definition

Tuesday, December 3, the motion for a resolution to fight against antisemitism by redefining antisemitism as defined by the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance), was adopted by the National Assembly. Crif welcomes this decision.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Crif welcomes the adoption of the Definition of antisemitism according to IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) by the French National Assembly tonight.

For Crif, the debate between supporters and opponents of this resolution has confronted those who wish to give our country a grid of understanding of antisemitism to those who are unable to look at contemporary antisemitism in its various forms, including anti-Zionism, for ideological reasons.

While it welcomes the victory of those who want to fight antisemitism and design it in all its forms, including the hatred of Israel, Crif deplores the violence of the remarks made by far-left MPs during this session, which unveiled once again their hatred of the State of Israel.

For Francis Kalifat, President of Crif, "this vote is first of all a step forward for France, which joins the 20 countries that have adopted the IHRA definition. It is a necessary step to strengthen the fight against this scourge that represents more than 50% of racist acts in our country.

It is an important tool that can help Police officers, Judges, educators and social workers to better understand antisemitism as it is expressed today in our society."