Before the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, the most concise and accurate definition of the term was the one created by Natan Sharansky:
We must be clear and outspoken in exposing the new anti-Semitism. I believe that we can apply a simple test – I call it the “3D” test – to help us distinguish legitimate criticism of Israel from anti-Semitism.
The first “D” is the test of demonization. When the Jewish state is being demonized; when Israel’s actions are blown out of all sensible proportion; when comparisons are made between Israelis and Nazis and between Palestinian refugee camps and Auschwitz – this is anti- Semitism, not legitimate criticism of Israel.
The second “D” is the test of double standards. When criticism of Israel is applied selectively; when Israel is singled out by the United Nations for human rights abuses while the behavior of known and major abusers, such as China, Iran, Cuba, and Syria, is ignored; when Israel’s Magen David Adom, alone among the world’s ambulance services, is denied admission to the International Red Cross – this is anti-Semitism.
The third “D” is the test of delegitimization: when Israel’s fundamental right to exist is denied – alone among all peoples in the world – this too is anti-Semitism.
Ken Roth of Human Rights Watch tweeted something that proves not only that he is aware of this definition, but that he believes that Human Rights Watch is not guilty of it:
Netanyahu’s supporters have tried to expand anti-Semitism to include the “demonization” and “delegitimization” of Israel, but the human rights movement routinely demonizes and deligitimizes governments that systematically persecute and discriminate. https://t.co/7JjMsRYEcR pic.twitter.com/1S0xOhjVyA— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) September 8, 2019
There is no question that HRW engages in double standards when it comes to Israel. Ken Roth knows this, which is why he tries so hard to misdirect his readers away from the definition of antisemitism that he knows HRW is guilty of in spades.
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