WHEREAS, antisemitism has proven to be history’s most pervasive, consistent, pernicious, destructive, and deadly form of bigotry and hatred; and
WHEREAS, law-enforcement data corroborate that Jews in America are far more frequently victimized by hate-crimes than all other religious minorities combined; and
WHEREAS, the United States of America has recently witnessed outbreaks of both deadly antisemitic violence and daily antisemitic harassment; and
WHEREAS, antisemites have long dehumanized and demonized Jews in word and in image; and
WHEREAS, antisemites invariably justify, excuse, and rationalize their hatred and violence by blaming their victims through claims of alleged grievances, all contrived, many fabricated, and all defamatory; and
WHEREAS, antisemitism invariably incorporates conspiracy theories holding Jews culpable for society’s troubles; and
WHEREAS, antisemitism today hides increasingly behind irrational fabrications, double-standards, and other anti-Israel slanders and blood-libels, couched disingenuously as “legitimate criticism of Israel”; and
WHEREAS, such demonstrably illegitimate criticism of Israel, including intentionally inflammatory claims of apartheid and genocide and international Jewish or Zionist influence and control, has become part of the national discourse and is engendering dangerous antisemitic attitudes in the media, in academia, and in politics; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of State under President Obama, and the United States Departments of Education and Justice under President Trump, have incorporated into American law and policy the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s definition (the “IHRA Definition”) intended to distinguish dangerous antisemitic rhetoric from legitimate discourse; and
WHEREAS, rhetoric and social media messaging that clearly meet the standards set forth in the IHRA Definition continue to be promulgated by individuals who hold positions affiliated with both major parties at the state and local levels; and
WHEREAS, candidates embracing anti-Israel and antisemitic libels, agendas, affiliations, and associations that clearly meet the standards set forth in the IHRA Definition are now running for public office on major party lines; and
WHEREAS, the [Republican/Democratic] Party is deeply concerned by the growing acceptability of such antisemitic individuals and groups, and understands that some antisemitic individuals and groups nevertheless express support for, and at times claim affiliation with, both major political parties in the United States;
IT IS, THEREFORE RESOLVED that the [Republican/Democratic] Party will publicly and unequivocally repudiate and condemn antisemitic rhetoric as defined by the IHRA definition that emanates from any national, state, or local [Republican/Democratic] Party officials or entities, upon such rhetoric being brought to the attention of the Party;
and
IT IS, THEREFORE FURTHER RESOLVED that the [Republican/Democratic] Party will do all within its power to reject any and all individuals attempting to run as [Republicans/Democrats] who demonstrate a history of antisemitic rhetoric, political positions, associations, and affiliations as defined by the IHRA Definition;
and
IT IS, THEREFORE FURTHER RESOLVED that the [Republican/Democratic] Party will condemn and consider not a legitimate [Republican/Democrat] any such individual who, despite the Party’s efforts, secures a place on the [Republican/Democratic] line, and will, in the event such a candidate emerges, publicly name and condemn the candidate, refuse support of any kind for their candidacy, and publicly urge voters to withhold support and votes for that candidate.
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