28.09.23

Editorial Note

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently formed the J7 Global Task Force Against Antisemitism, responding to increasing numbers of antisemitic incidents worldwide. The Task Force will include the following countries and organizations: The United States – ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; The United Kingdom – Board of Deputies of British Jews; France – Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF); Germany- Central Council of Jews in Germany; Canada – Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA); Argentina – Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA); Australia- Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). According to the ADL, in addition to top-level consultations, the J7 will organize a number of working groups comprised of experts from each community and develop strategies and action plans such as policy and advocacy, tech policy, security, extremism, and education against antisemitism. “The formation of the J7 Global Task Force comes at a time when data from around the world indicates a rise in antisemitic incidents and attitudes, and growing concern within our Jewish communities who are confronting this rise,” the ADL stated.

Some Arab and Iranian media responded with antisemitic rants. These sources accuse the Jews of using the label of antisemitism to silence the legitimate voices of the Palestinians and scuttle their struggle against the “Jewish colonialists.” One example is Al-Mayadeen, a Beirut-based Arab language satellite news channel associated with Iran and Hezbollah.     

Al Mayadeen stated that the Global Task Force, formed by several leading “pro-Israeli, Zionist organizations,” is an alliance “pedaling pro-Israeli sentiment under the guise of fighting antisemitism.” These organizations are “staunch supporters of the Israeli occupation… it is well-known that the organizations would spin the narrative and make the whole thing revolve around defending the Israeli occupation and attacking occupied Palestine.”

According to the Al Mayadeen, the list of members raises questions about the “so-called fight against anti-Semitism,” as it includes “the notorious Anti-Defamation League, a notorious organization known for its Zionist ideals, support for the Israeli occupation, and vilification of Pro-Palestine activists.”  Al Mayadeen reached this conclusion because the ADL holds Zionism as “the movement for the self-determination and statehood for the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel.” For Al Mayadeen, it means, “intentionally ignoring its roots that stem from European colonialism and the pursuit of expansion at the expense of third countries.”

Furthermore, for Al Mayadeen, the claim that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism is “a sort of umbrella phrase that seeks to demonize anyone who opposes the Israeli occupation and the crime it commits against the Palestinian people and Arabs.” 

For Al Mayadeen, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, another prominent J7 member, is “another Zionist organization that supports the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The board also asserts that Zionism is ‘the belief that the Jewish people have the right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland.’ The board also in May 2018 criticized the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas for its response to Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, without acknowledging that the Israeli occupation forces killed scores of Palestinians and used disproportionate force against them.” 

That Al-Mayadeen is a mouthpiece for Hezbollah and Iran is hardly debatable. The outlet trumpets its dedication to the “Palestinian resistance movement,” echoing Hezbollah’s 1985 foundational charter that mentions the goal of fighting “the Zionist enemy.” The Jewish Chronicle accused Al Mayadeen of antisemitism because of articles like “The Holocaust — that great deception”; “Why do the Jews rejoice at the burning of Notre Dame in Paris?”; “Jews and Freemasons in the Arabs’ revolutions”; and “The Jews of ‘Israel’ — this is why their end is certain.”

The Middle East Monitor (MEMO), the anti-Israel Arab media outlet based in London, is also a case in point. Widely distributed in the Middle East, it is considered a mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood. MEMO published an article presenting the battle against antisemitism negatively, stating that ADL’s “Greenblatt is one of the key proponents of the idea that anti-Zionism and legitimate criticism of the state of Israel equate to anti-Semitism. He is spearheading the initiative.” According to MEMO, “The collaboration comes as Israel faces sharp criticism for its political shift to the far-right. Internally the occupation state is facing the prospect of a ‘civil war’, according to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; internationally, a consensus is emerging about Israel’s practice of apartheid. With the highly controversial IHRA definition of anti-Semitism conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Jewish racism, the increased focus and concern over Israeli policy has reinforced the false narrative with every condemnation of the occupation state and every voice in support of Palestine.” 

Traditional discourse on antisemitism has been largely limited to the West – where both right-wing and left-wing varieties of the phenomenon are to be found. The tremendous growth of antisemitic propaganda of the Islamist regime of Iran propagated through its myriad outlets in the Middle East and Asia, such as Al Mayadeen, should be examined. Iran’s antisemitic propaganda has also taken root in Latin and South America, where Hezbollah is embedded in the large Lebanese diaspora. The modern versions of Arab and Palestinian antisemitism, which peaked during the Nazi era, also need to be scrutinized. 

IAM would report on the progress of the J7 Global Task Force. 

References:

https://www.adl.org/j7-large-communities-task-force-against-antisemitism
J7 – The Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism

In response to increasing rates of antisemitism around the world, major Jewish organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Argentina and Australia formed the J7, the Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism.

The task force will consist of the following member organizations and nations represented:

• The United States: ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
• The United Kingdom: Board of Deputies of British Jews
• France: Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF)
• Germany: Central Council of Jews in Germany
• Canada: Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
• Argentina: Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA)
• Australia: Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ)

In addition to top-level consultations, the J7 will organize a number of working groups comprised of subject matter experts from each community to develop strategies and action plans within areas such as policy and advocacy, tech policy, security, extremism and education against antisemitism.

The formation of the J7 Global Task Force comes at a time when data from around the world indicates a rise in antisemitic incidents and attitudes, and growing concern within our Jewish communities who are confronting this rise.

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https://www.adl.org/j7-large-communities-task-force-against-antisemitism

Published: 07.24.2023

New initiative will bring together leaders of seven large Diaspora Jewish communities to discuss common challenges, develop coordinated strategies and share best practices

New York, NY, July 25, 2023 … In response to increasing rates of antisemitism around the world, major Jewish organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Argentina and Australia announced today the formation of the J7, the Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism. 

The task force will consist of the following member organizations and nations represented: 

• The United States: ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations 
• The United Kingdom: Board of Deputies of British Jews
• France: Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF)
• Germany: Central Council of Jews in Germany
• Canada: Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
• Argentina: Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA)
• Australia: Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ)

In addition to top-level consultations, the J7 will organize a number of working groups comprised of subject matter experts from each community to develop strategies and action plans within areas such as policy and advocacy, tech policy, security, extremism, and education against antisemitism.

The formation of the J7 Global Task Force comes at a time when data from around the world indicates a rise in antisemitic incidents and attitudes, and growing concern within our Jewish communities who are confronting this rise.

Leaders of these seven communities shared their perspectives of the importance of this collaboration:

Argentina – Jorge Knoblovits, President, DAIA: “To be part of J7, represents for the DAIA a great responsibility as one of the world’s largest Jewish communities and the only one in Latin America. J7 will allow us to have a greater understanding of the challenges faced by world Jewry in the areas of antisemitism, Holocaust remembrance and other hate-related topics. To be part of J7, led by ADL, ensures that the perspective of Latin American Jews will have a global reach.”   

Australia – Peter Wertheim, Co-CEO, Executive Council of Australian Jewry: “Antisemitism is a disease of the human spirit that eats away at the foundations of civilisation everywhere. It is not limited by geographical borders, ideology or creed.  It is a global phenomenon that requires a global response.  As the elected peak representative body of the Australian Jewish community, we are pleased to join our colleagues from organisations representing other major Jewish communities in the diaspora to co-ordinate our efforts to combat antisemitism and maximise our impact.”

Canada – Shimon Fogel, President and CEO, CIJA: “What starts with the Jews, never ends with the Jews. There is a global imperative to confront antisemitism and drawing on the expertise and strength of the J7 coalition is an important catalyst for universal action.”

France – Robert J. Ejnes, Executive Director, CRIF: “If antisemitism exists everywhere in the world, it is in Europe that it has been brought to its climax. Together with the J7 task force, we will look at the resurgence of antisemitism in all its forms, whether Islamist, conspiratorial, hatred of Israel or Holocaust denial, from wherever it originates. Together, we will monitor the expressions of hate and fight for a better tomorrow.”

Germany – Dr. Josef Schuster, President, Central Council of Jews in Germany: “The internet, as a means of fast and easy communication, increasingly blurs national borders. Similarly, antisemitic networks, tactics and developments don’t stop at national borders either. We endorse this additional opportunity for exchange in the J7 format, which will facilitate interaction between representatives of Jewish communities at this level. Together we will approach globally operating institutions or companies and unite our efforts in combatting antisemitism.”

UK – Marie van der Zyl OBE, President, Board of Deputies of British Jews: “Antisemitism knows no geographic boundaries.  The Board of Deputies looks forward to being part of this international coalition of leading Jewish organisations, each at the forefront of the fight against the challenges posed by the rise of this global hatred. By working together, we strengthen our ability to tackle antisemitism wherever it emerges.”

U.S. – William C. Daroff, CEO, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations: “Antisemitism, which is the world’s oldest hatred, no longer looks or spreads the way it did in the past. The vitriol once felt for individual Jews or Jewish practice, has metastasized into blaming the Jewish people and the Jewish state for the ills of the world. Social media enables antisemitic hate to cross borders, where it spreads faster than ever before. It is therefore imperative for the largest diaspora Jewish communities to engage in regular conversation to develop strategies to combat the pernicious spread of antisemitism. Including our Conference of Presidents member organizations that are engaged in combatting antisemitism will bring great synergies to this effort. What impacts one community, impacts us all. ”

U.S. — Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO: “Antisemitism is rising around the world, especially in countries where there are large Jewish populations. And threats to our communities are not contained by continents and borders. We needed to meet these challenges through coordinated action. This new coalition of major organizations representing seven large Jewish Diaspora communities in liberal democracies will provide a formal framework for coordination, consultation and formulating global responses to antisemitic threats against the Jewish people.”

The J7 leadership will meet periodically virtually and in-person, including at ADL’s 2024 Never is Now Summit on March 4-7, 2024.

================================https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/notorious-zionist-group-adl-forms-task-force-to-address-anti

Notorious Zionist group ADL forms task force to ‘address antisemitism’

By Al Mayadeen English Source: Agencies 25 Jul 2023 14:09 

Several leading pro-Israeli, Zionist organizations have taken to form an alliance of their own in a bid to “address antisemitism” while pedaling pro-Israeli sentiment.

Organizations from seven nations, most of whom are staunch supporters of the Israeli occupation, have come together to form a “global task force” that would try and tackle “anti-Semitism”, though not much was specified regarding this topic, as it is well-known that the organizations would spin the narrative and make the whole thing revolve around defending the Israeli occupation and attacking occupied Palestine.

The initiative will “unite leaders from the world’s most significant Jewish communities to devise coordinated strategies, discuss mutual challenges, and share best practices,” a statement published Tuesday by the J7 Global Task Force Against Antisemitism said.

However, the list of the task force’s members raises many questions about this so-called fight against anti-Semitism, as it includes the notorious Anti-Defamation League, a notorious organization known for its Zionist ideals, support for the Israeli occupation, and vilification of Pro-Palestine activists.

The ADL proclaims Zionism to be “the movement for the self-determination and statehood for the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel”, intentionally ignoring its roots that stem from European colonialism and the pursuit of expansion at the expense of third countries.

Moreover, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt claimed in May that anti-Zionism was anti-Semitism, a sort of umbrella phrase that seeks to demonize anyone who opposes the Israeli occupation and the crime it commits against the Palestinian people and Arabs.

Another member is the Board of Deputies of British Jews, another Zionist organization that supports the Israeli occupation of Palestine. 

The board also asserts that Zionism is “the belief that the Jewish people have the right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland.”

The board also in May 2018 criticized the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas for its response to Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, without acknowledging that the Israeli occupation forces killed scores of Palestinians and used disproportionate force against them.

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https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230726-zionist-groups-set-up-taskforce-to-defend-israel-under-guise-of-combatting-anti-semitism/
Zionist groups set up ‘taskforce’ to defend Israel under guise of combatting anti-Semitism

July 26, 2023 at 12:31 pm

Eight major pro-Israel Jewish organisations from seven different countries have united to create a new task force to defend Israel under the guides of combatting anti-Semitism. The groups in the Task Force Against Anti-Semitism have all embraced the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and placed defending Israel from criticism at the centre of their work.

Calling themselves J7, the anti-Palestinian taskforce comprises prominent Jewish organisations from the US, the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Argentina and Australia: the Anti-Defamation League (ADL); the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organisations; the Board of Deputies of British Jews; Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF); the Central Council of Jews in Germany; the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA); Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA); and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).

“Anti-Semitism is rising around the world, especially in countries where there are large Jewish populations. We needed to meet these challenges through coordinated action,” ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt told Haaretz. “This new coalition of major organisations representing seven large Jewish Diaspora communities in liberal democracies will provide a formal framework for coordination, consultation and formulating global responses to anti-Semitic threats against the Jewish people.”

Greenblatt is one of the key proponents of the idea that anti-Zionism and legitimate criticism of the state of Israel equate to anti-Semitism. He is spearheading the initiative. “The idea for the J7 came out of conversations I had with partners in France over our shared challenges and concerns. When we reached out to these seven communities, there was instant enthusiasm about the importance of the seven of us consulting, and what we might achieve working together.”

The collaboration comes as Israel faces sharp criticism for its political shift to the far-right. Internally the occupation state is facing the prospect of a “civil war”, according to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; internationally, a consensus is emerging about Israel’s practice of apartheid. With the highly controversial IHRA definition of anti-Semitism conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Jewish racism, the increased focus and concern over Israeli policy has reinforced the false narrative with every condemnation of the occupation state and every voice in support of Palestine.

In a recent interview, legal expert Giovanni Fassina spoke to MEMO about the IHRA definition’s chilling repercussions. Fassina uncovered shocking examples of its weaponisation against critics of Israel and the suppression of free speech under the guise of combatting anti-Semitism.

The J7 group says that it will monitor and address expressions of hate from all origins. The leadership of J7 will meet regularly, both virtually and in person, with a significant event scheduled for ADL’s Never is Now Summit in March 2024.

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https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2023-07-25/ty-article/.premium/international-jewish-establishment-groups-form-landmark-task-force-to-combat-antisemitism/00000189-8c2c-d430-a59b-ad2df3970000International Jewish Establishment Groups Form Landmark Task Force to Combat Antisemitism

The initiative joins UN and White House initiatives to address a worldwide rise in antisemitic incidents

Ben Samuels, Washington
Jul 25, 2023

WASHINGTON — Major Jewish establishment organizations in seven countries announced on Tuesday the formation of a landmark task force to combat rising antisemitism at nearly unprecedented levels, both within their respective countries and on a global level.

Known as the J7, the Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism, the first-of-its-kind alliance will bring together Jewish organizations from the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Argentina and Australia to develop strategies and actions plans within areas such as policy and advocacy, tech policy, security, extremism and education.

“Antisemitism is rising around the world, especially in countries where there are large Jewish populations. We needed to meet these challenges through coordinated action,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told Haaretz.

“This new coalition of major organizations representing seven large Jewish Diaspora communities in liberal democracies will provide a formal framework for coordination, consultation and formulating global responses to antisemitic threats against the Jewish people,” he noted.

The member groups, alongside the ADL, include the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF), the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA) and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).

“The idea for the J7 came out of conversations I had with partners in France over our shared challenges and concerns,” Greenblatt said.

“When we reached out to these seven communities — Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. — there was instant enthusiasm about the importance of the seven of us consulting, and what we might achieve working together,” he continued.

“These large Jewish Diaspora communities around the world are all experiencing rising antisemitic incidents, and in many cases, attitudes — on the streets and online. We are confronted with the normalization of antisemitism and anti-Zionism on the left and right,” he added.

Greenblatt’s comments reflect a widely shared position amongst Jewish establishment figures around the world concerning the role of anti-Israel sentiment in fomenting anti-Jewish hatred.

The Biden administration recently unveiled a landmark plan to combat antisemitism, widely hailed despite deep internal infighting about how to properly define antisemitism in relation to criticism of Israel and pro-Palestinian advocacy.

After the Biden administration managed to land the plane and please both sides of the debate, the United Nations is similarly deep in working toward creating its own action plan while wrestling with the same issues and external pressures.

The J7 organizations, it bears mentioning, have all passionately embraced and subsequently advocated for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which progressives caution too easily conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

CRIF Executive Director Robert J. Ejnes, meanwhile, flagged anti-Israel sentiment as one of many forms of anti-Jewish hatred the alliance plans to combat.

“If antisemitism exists everywhere in the world, it is in Europe that it has been brought to its climax. Together with the J7 task force, we will look at the resurgence of antisemitism in all its forms, whether Islamist, conspiratorial, hatred of Israel or Holocaust denial, from wherever it originates. Together, we will monitor the expressions of hate and fight for a better tomorrow,” he said.

The J7 leadership will meet periodically virtually and in-person, including at ADL’s 2024 Never is Now Summit on March 4-7, 2024.