The European Jewish Congress joined Jewish communities and organisations from around the world in Jerusalem to issue the “J50 Declaration on Zionism and Antisemitism”, reaffirming the Jewish people’s right to self-determination and recognising that anti-Zionism can mask contemporary antisemitism.
The declaration states that anti-Zionism should be considered antisemitic when it is used to deny Jews their right to self-determination, or when Jews are expected to renounce Zionism in order to be accepted in political, academic, professional or cultural settings.
It further emphasises that Zionism is the “national movement of the Jewish people”, expressing the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in Israel.
J50 Declaration on Zionism and Antisemitism
“On the eve of the Jewish New Year, we, leaders and representatives of Jewish communities and organizations from every corner of the Diaspora, have come together in Jerusalem as one, united by our shared identity, common purpose, and hopes for the year ahead.
We reaffirm the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and to define our own identity. That right, however, is increasingly challenged and denied.
Governments, international institutions, municipalities and political parties, media and cultural institutions, universities and educational institutions, professional associations, and civil society are increasingly becoming arenas for the delegitimization and distortion of Zionism, serving to marginalize and exclude Jews.
Zionism is the national movement of the Jewish people and the expression of our right to self-determination in our ancient homeland, Israel. It is deeply rooted in Jewish history and tradition.
Reaffirming the principles of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, we recognize that, depending on the overall context, denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, demonizing or delegitimizing the State of Israel, or applying double standards to Israel constitute antisemitism.
Therefore, we unequivocally declare:
Anti-Zionism, as manifested today through efforts to deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination, or demand that Jews renounce Zionism as the price of acceptance in political, academic, professional, or cultural life, is antisemitic.
We call for anti-Zionism to be recognized and confronted when it is used to marginalize, exclude, or discriminate against Jews.
Zionism is part of Jewish identity. We will not allow others to define it for us.”
