Everyone has a duty to ensure that there is zero tolerance for antisemitism.

After a succession of Labour Party members have been found to have been guilty of antisemitism, the Party has set up an inquiry into the problem. However the Deputy Chairman of the inquiry, Professor David Feldman, does not accept the most commonly used definition of antisemitism, the EUMC definition. This is accepted for example by the Parliamentary Committee Against Antisemitism, the UK National Union of Students and the US State Department.

http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/157634/labour-inquiry-professor-has-links-group-says-antisemitism-claims-are-baseless

Sir Eric Pickles, United Kingdom Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues, has also recommended the use of this Definition.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/a-definition-of-antisemitism

Inter alia, the Definition states:

"Examples of the ways in which antisemitism manifests itself with regard to the State of Israel taking into account the overall context could include:

Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour;
Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation;
Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis;
Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis;
Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel."

Professor Feldman has also signed up to the Declaration of 'Independent Jewish Voices' which states: "The battle against antisemitism is vital and is undermined whenever opposition to Israeli government policies is automatically branded as antisemitic."

The accusation that 'opposition to Israeli government policies is automatically branded as antisemitic' is known as the Livingstone Formulation and is a staple trope of antisemites. It implies that supporters of Israel use the charge of antisemitism dishonestly. Quite apart from being a lie, this falsehood is designed to intimidate Jews to remain silent in the face of racism.

We are very concerned about the shocking resurgence of antisemitism in the UK and express the hope that Labour's inquiry can help to ensure zero tolerance in the Party.  But we consider that there is little chance of achieving this with a Deputy Chairman who does not accept the EUMC Definition.

We therefore ask that Professor Feldman is replaced with someone who does accept the EUMC Definition.