To consider the Motion on Notice received from Councillor Morley:

This Council expresses alarm at the rise in antisemitism across the UK in recent years. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) guidelines on antisemitism, negotiated and agreed at an international level, were adopted by the UK Government in 2016. These guidelines define antisemitism thus:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

·        Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

·        Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

·        Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

·        Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

·        Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

·        Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

·        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 behaviour 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 characterize 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.

This Council hereby adopts the above definition of antisemitism as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and adopted by the UK Government, and pledges to combat this anti-Jewish racism.

Proposer – Cllr Suzie Morley

Seconder – Cllr Lavinia Hadingham

Note: Councillor Norris left the meeting at 8:53 pm.

53.1             The Chair invited the Leader, Councillor Morley to introduce her Motion.

53.2              Councillor Morley said that the District of Mid Suffolk had a long and proud association with the Jewish community and was a refuge for children fleeing persecution by Nazi Germany through the Kindertransport, who came to live with foster families in the district. Sadly, many of the 10,000 children who arrived in the UK were never reunited with their birth parents, who died during the Holocaust. A painful reminder of why tackling hate crime was so important and the potential consequences that could arise when it was allowed to go unchecked. On Wednesday, 27 January, the UK were marking Holocaust Memorial Day, and remember the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kurdistan and Darfur. This was a timely opportunity to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism – as part of the Council’s commitment to tackling hate crime in all its forms.

53.3             This definition, which was adopted by the UK government in 2016, outlaws all forms of hatred towards Jewish people, including rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism. Adopting this standard did not mean the Council placed any religion, faith or creed above another.  It did however, send a clear message, that the Council recognised the definition of anti-Semitism ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, and that the Council supported the Jewish community, as the Council support all communities within the district and to live here safely.

53.4             She urged all councillors to support the motion and send a clear message to those who seek to sow seeds of hatred.

53.5             Councillor Morley MOVED her Motion which was SECONDED by Councillor Hadingham

53.6             Members debated the Motion and there was generally agreement that:

·        Suffolk had a long history of taking in refugees.

·        Over 1000 hate crimes had been recorded in Suffolk last year.

·        That understanding for minority groups must be supported.

·        That the Motion was appropriate now, as the Memorial Day was being commemorated the following week.

·        Some were surprised that anti-Semitism was an issue in Suffolk but supported the motion.

·        Some Members shared personal experiences of family history from the Second World War persecution of Jews and others shared memories of visits to concentration camps.

·        Any hate crime should be prevented and stopped at any cost.

·        The Motion should have been adopted sooner.

·        There could be no tolerance for discrimination of any groups in any form.

·        As the District became more cosmopolitan a more powerful statement to include all groups should be considered.

·        Concerns for the escalation of anti-Semitism and that that this kind of crime was a blight on society.

·        Some Members had personal experience of war crimes and atrocities of hate and had experienced how no policies, or regulation could control this kind of chaos.

53.7             A few Councillors felt that it was fundamentally wrong to single out one minority group and not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53

To consider the Motion on Notice received from Councillor Ward:

This Council expresses alarm at the rise in antisemitism across the UK in recent years. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) guidelines on antisemitism, negotiated and agreed at an international level, were adopted by the UK Government in 2016. These guidelines define antisemitism thus:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

·        Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

·        Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

·        Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

·        Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

·        Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

·        Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

·        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 behaviour 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 characterize 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.

This Council hereby adopts the above definition of antisemitism as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and adopted by the UK Government, and pledges to combat this anti-Jewish racism.

Proposer – Cllr John Ward

Seconder – Cllr Jan Osborne

50.1           The Chair invited The Leader, Councillor Ward to introduce his Motion.

50.2           Councillor Ward said that the District of Babergh had a long and proud association with the Jewish community and was a refuge for children fleeing persecution by Nazi Germany through the Kindertransport, who came to live with foster families in the district. Sadly, many of the 10,000 children who arrived in the UK were never reunited with their birth parents, who died during the Holocaust. A painful reminder of why tackling hate crime was so important and the potential consequences that could arise when it was allowed to go unchecked. On Wednesday, 27 January, the UK was marking Holocaust Memorial Day, and remembering the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kurdistan, and Darfur. This was a timely opportunity to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism – as part of the Council’s commitment to tackling hate crime in all its forms. This definition, which was adopted by the UK government in 2016, outlaws all forms of hatred towards Jewish people, including rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism.

50.3            By adopting this standard the Council would be sending a clear message that the Council was committed to identifying and stamping out antic Semitic abuse as well as supporting the Council’s equality objectives and providing residents and visitors reassurance of this commitment.

50.4            He urged all Councillors to support the Motion and send a clear message.

50.5            Councillor Ward MOVED his Motion, which was SECONDED by Councillor Jan Osborne.

50.6            Members debated the Motion and all Members agreed that all forms of genocide, hate crime, discrimination and racism should not be tolerated. Even if many people regarded this as a matter of fact, there was still hidden racism and discrimination in everyday life.

50.7            Members welcomed and supported the Motion and some Members shared personal experiences of genocide and racism.

50.8            Councillor Ward thanked Members for the good debate and valuable contributions.

50.9            The Motion was put to Members for voting.

By a unanimous vote.

It was RESOLVED:-

This Council hereby adopts the above definition of antisemitism as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and adopted by the UK Government, and pledges to combat this anti-Jewish racism.