The Ulster Unionist Party Leader OBE MLA said:
“Today’s Assembly motion included a call for the Assembly to
adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA)
working definition of antisemitism, which formed the basis of a
motion which the Ulster Unionist Party had also submitted.
“If anyone needed proof that antisemitism still exists, they only
have to look at the recent disgraceful attack on the Jewish
graveyard at Belfast City Cemetery. This is just one of many
examples of hate crimes perpetrated against our friends across
this long established and proud community. A community that has
made a huge contribution to life in Northern Ireland, culturally,
societally, in business and adding significantly to our
diversity. The Jewish community here also has a strong connection
to Israel and its proud history, with Chaim Herzog, the
6th President of Israel, born in Belfast in 1918.
“That such a historic figure came from Belfast should be a point
of pride, for all of us, however, the mere fact that a
commemorative plaque cannot be erected in the vicinity of his
birth place without it being attacked, or that the Synagogue for
our small Jewish community has been daubed with hate driven and
racist symbols, and that the language of anti-Semitism seems to
be pervasive amongst some, shows that there is a real need to
recognise that action must be taken.
“To counter anti-Jewish rhetoric and holocaust denial, the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance called for
international and domestic institutions to adopt a set of
principles. These principles call on us to adopt the view that:
“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.”
“These principles have been adopted by our own nation, and by 29
other nations, including the United States, France and most
tellingly, Germany. It should also be noted that it has been
signed by the Scottish Government and the Welsh Executive, but
not the Government of the Republic of Ireland.
“We as an Assembly can, as well as recognising that the attacks
on our Jewish community - as well as all our other minority
communities - are hate crimes; and as such these must all be
dealt with forcefully and with the full weight of the law.
However, we must also recognise that there is something
particularly invidious about antisemitism that calls for wider
action, and that is why we must demonstrate that we, as an
elected body, will not tolerate this blight on our society, and
show solidarity with our, and the wider, Jewish Community by
adopting the above IHRA definition, showing in the strongest
terms our commitment to stamp out the racist scourge of
antisemitism.”
