At the Council meeting on Tuesday 26 April 2022, Council resolved to formally adopt and endorse the definition, including all IHRA examples of contemporary antisemitism as an important tool in recognising and combatting manifestations of antisemitism.

The key statement from the IHRA definition is: 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.

Council now calls on all political parties, universities, councils and other public bodies and organisations to also adopt the definition and use it to better understand and act against anti-Jewish hatred. Council will write to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and all councils in Victoria, encouraging them to also adopt this definition.

Glen Eira Mayor Cr Jim Magee said this has been an important matter for Council to consider.

“I would like to acknowledge the deep feelings and passion that our community has expressed during Councillors’ deliberations. Council will use this definition to strengthen our efforts to combat antisemitism and racism in all its forms in our community,” he said.

“I note that regardless of the views that each organisation and individual has offered on the question of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, the one thing that unites us all is our overwhelming support of a community free from racism and antisemitism.”

Council will continue to reject racism in all its forms through its commitment to the Together We Stand statement, developed in partnership with the Anti Defamation Commission in 2019. The Reporting Racism Tool is hosted on Council’s website and actively encourages the community to report any incidents of racism through this site directly to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Council is also a member and supporter of the Racism — It Stops with Me campaign.

“I am very proud that we can face the tough questions, have a productive conversation where all voices can be heard and make a decision that acknowledges difference but supports agreement and majority,” Cr Magee said.

Council will commit to ongoing actions, events and initiatives which celebrate diversity and contribute to a socially cohesive community.