Criticizing Israel is not antisemitic!

The proposed definitions of antisemitism risk conflating criticism of the Israeli government's policies with hatred towards the Jewish people as a whole. This overbreadth threatens to chill free speech and legitimate opposition to the Israeli government's actions. A well-constructed definition must clearly distinguish between antisemitic hate speech targeting the Jewish people and protected political speech critical of a nation's policies. Equating all Jewish people with the state of Israel promotes an offensive stereotype and undermines efforts to address genuine antisemitism. We urge the rejection of definitions that encompass constitutionally-protected speech calling for changes to Israeli policies or challenging its governmental actions. Protecting free expression while combating hate is vital to upholding civil liberties for all.