Question reference: S5W-09669
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 14 June 2017
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Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 26 June 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 13 June 2017, Next steps on tackling hate crime, what its response is to concerns that adopting the International Holocaust Memorial Trust's working definition of antisemitism could impact on the right to criticise the actions of the Israeli Government and state.
Answer
We note that detailed guidance accompanying the definition states that “ Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.” We are happy to continue to engage in dialogue on these issues.