LONDON: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have joined more than 100 other human rights organizations in urging the United Nations not to adopt or endorse the working definition of antisemitism provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

On 3 April, the groups sent an open letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, warning that the use of the IHRA definition could shield the Israeli government from fair criticism of various policies.

The letter has since been updated with additional signatory groups, increasing from 60 to 104.

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"Antisemitism" causes real harm to Jewish communities around the world and requires meaningful action to combat it, the signatories wrote.

However, he added that any effort to take action must not "inadvertently endorse or support policies and laws that undermine fundamental human rights, including the right to speak and organize in support of Palestinian rights and the policies of the Israeli government." includes criticizing.

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Additionally, he noted that the Jerusalem Declaration and Nexus Document offered more comprehensive definitions of antisemitism and had been "repeatedly" "abused" in the past to stifle free speech and support for Palestinians.

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Along with Amnesty and HRW, other organizations that have signed the petition include Breaking the Silence, American Civil Liberties Union, International Federation for Human Rights, Americans for Peace Now, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and the Israeli Human Rights Organization. B Salem.