The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to expand the Department of Education’s definition of anti-Semitism, a measure proposed in response to pro-Palestinian protests rocking campuses across the country.
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Part of the American political class accuses the demonstrators in universities of “anti-Semitism”, evoking, among other things, slogans hostile to Israel, a great ally of the United States in the Middle East.
The bill, adopted in the afternoon by elected officials from both sides, uses the definition of anti-Semitism proposed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
According to it, “anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews which can manifest itself in hatred towards them. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism target Jewish and non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, community institutions and places of worship.”
Critics of the proposed law, however, believe that this definition prevents certain criticism of the State of Israel, which the IHRA defends. They accuse parliamentarians of pushing for its adoption in order to curb freedom of expression on American campuses.
“Comments critical of Israel do not in themselves constitute illegal discrimination,” warned elected Democrat Jerry Nadler, opposing the text.
To come into force, this measure must still be adopted in the Senate, where its future is still uncertain, then signed into law by President Biden.
