Glen Eira Council is voting this coming Tuesday (April 26th) on whether to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism – a definition already adopted by 40 countries, including Australia, the US, the UK, France, Germany etc etc, the European Union, the NSW Government, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), the National Union of Students, and countless other international organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and municipal authorities, who view it as a critical tool in stemming the tide of rising global antisemitism.

Those on the frontline, notably Jewish students both in Australia and overseas, have called for the IHRA definition to be adopted, insisting it helps protect them from prejudice, discrimination, intimidation and abuse on campus.

As well as being supported by all Jewish community roof bodies – including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Zionist Federation of Australia, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Zionism Victoria, the Zionist Council of NSW and the Jewish Community Council of Victoria – and the overwhelming majority of communal organisations who have discussed it, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council backs it, the Victorian Opposition has adopted it, the Victorian Government is currently considering adopting it and Waverley Council – home to the second largest Jewish population in the country – has adopted it.

However, while it may seem a no-brainer that Glen Eira – home to the largest Jewish population in the country – would adopt it, fringe groups like the Australian Jewish Democratic Society and New Israel Fund, who are highly critical of both Israel and the mainstream Jewish community, have helped convince council officials to write a report recommending councillors vote against adopting the definition.

The last person who made headlines trying to prevent his organisation trying to adopt the IHRA definition was Jeremy Corbyn … and even his own Labour Party executive overruled him!

By signing this petition, you are letting Glen Eira councillors know that it would be a travesty if they did not adopt the IHRA definition, as it is a vital tool both for educating people about antisemitism and for actually combating antisemitism.

It is incumbent on them as our representatives - and we expect them as our representatives - to stand with, and represent, the community on this issue, 

To read Zionism Victoria's submission to Council, click here

To read the IHRA definition, click here