Combat Anti-Semitism Movement Welcomes Paris’ Adoption of IHRA Anti-Semitism Definition

5 February 2021 (New York) – The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) welcomed yesterday’s decision by the city of Paris, led by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism.  

The decision was taken by the Council of Paris, headed by Mayor Hidalgo. The Council, which consists of 163 councilors, is responsible for governing the French capital. The IHRA definition is an internationally agreed classification of anti-Semitism, which also provides contemporary examples of how anti-Semitism too often plays out in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere.

The decision by Paris, a major European capital city, comes ahead of the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement’s Global Mayor’s Summit on 16 March. The digital summit will for the first time, bring together municipal and local leaders from across the world, empowering them to eradicate anti-Semitism, prejudice and hatred from their cities. Confirmed speakers include Frankfurt Mayor Uwe Becker, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis and Mayor of Bal Harbour Gabriel Groisman.

Sacha Roytman-Dratwa, The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement Director: “We warmly congratulate the city of Paris on this landmark decision. Anti-Semitism is not an abstract concept, it takes place on a regular basis in the streets, offices, schools, homes and institutions within cities. Therefore, it is crucial that cities themselves tackle Jew-hatred head on. Properly defining anti-Semitism is the first step to defeating it. By adopting the IHRA definition, Paris and its Mayor Anne Hidalgo is setting a tremendous example to other capitals and major cities. Hopefully many other mayors and municipal leaders will be inspired to follow in Paris’ footsteps.”

The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement is a non-partisan, global grassroots movement of individuals and organizations, across all religions and faiths, united around the goal of ending anti-Semitism in all its forms. Since its launching in February 2019, 305 organizations and 310,000 individuals have joined the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement by signing the campaign’s pledge. The CAM Pledge draws upon the IHRA international definition of anti- Semitism and its list of specific behaviors used to discriminate against the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel.