Israel and the contemporary antisemitism debate
12th May at 20:30

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism has been accepted by governments and institutions around the world. Yet there is opposition from those who claim the definition prevents "legitimate criticism of the State of Israel", and this was expressed formally in the so-called 'Jerusalem Declaration' signed by over 200 academics.

What is the reality? Does the IHRA definition stifle legitimate criticism of Israel, or is the Jerusalem Declaration itself a politically motivated tool of anti-Zionist intellectuals?

To discuss this, and the broader reality of contemporary antisemitism, the Menachem Begin Heritage Center is honored to host one of Europe's leading activists and writers against antisemitism, Dr, David Hirsh, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Dr. Hirsh's first book, ‘Law against Genocide: Cosmopolitan trials’, won the British Sociological Association Philip Abrams Memorial Prize in 2004. In 2005 he co-founded the Engage website, a resource for those working to oppose the academic boycott of Israel.

Dr. Hirsh was one of the leading left-wing voices against antisemitism in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn and he published, in 2018, his second book, ‘Contemporary Left Antisemitism’.