Silenced in Our Name: Analysis from IJV Canada
“The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA) defines Anti-Palestinian Racism as “a form of anti-Arab racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives.” APR includes actions such as denying the Nakba, justifying violence against Palestinians, or branding Palestinians and their allies as inherently antisemitic or supportive of terrorism. By this measure, the IHRA definition—and tools like the Handbook used to enforce it—are themselves manifestations of APR…. The IHRA Handbook also perpetuates discrimination against Jews by tying Jewish identity to the actions of the Israeli state, reinforcing antisemitic tropes around dual loyalty and collective responsibility. It erases vibrant Jewish debate on the question of Zionism – including anti-, non-, cultural-, post- and even Liberal Zionist traditions-and isolates antisemitism from broader systems of white supremacy and racism.”
“This commentary offers a section-by-section critique of Canada’s IHRA Handbook. It does not cover the whole text, but rather zeroes in on what we believe to be its most dangerous and troubling passages. It is intended for anyone concerned about the spread of IHRA in Canadian workplaces, institutions, and communities. Rather than revisiting the full IHRA definition (which is covered in depth elsewhere), this text focuses on what is distinct about the Canadian Handbook.”