1. Notwithstanding that the Co-operative Party has no backlog of outstanding cases, the NEC agreed a rule change that will speed up the disciplinary process to ensure swift, fair and consistent management of all disciplinary cases (see Briefing – rule changes)
2. Party Officers must ensure that meetings and event speaker invitations are carefully considered so that they do not provide a platform for individuals or organisations that are known to hold anti-Semitic views. If you are not sure, please contact Head Office before issuing the invitation to speakers or accepting invitations from other organisations to host joint meetings – we are happy to help or advise.
3. The Co-operative Party’s political representatives are asked to consider very carefully before sharing platforms with individuals or organisations that may hold views that by association could bring the Party into disrepute; and not to share platforms with individuals or organisations that are known to hold anti-Semitic views.
4. The Party will use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism and the examples that go alongside it to inform decision making about disciplinary cases or in other circumstances in which the Party is called upon to determine whether actions amount, in the Party’s view, to anti-Semitism.
5. We will circulate the full IHRA definition to Party Officers with the goal of widening understanding of what constitutes anti-Semitism (see below).

‘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.’

Source: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

‘To guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve as illustrations:

 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. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.   

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
• Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
• Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
• Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
• Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
• Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
• Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
• Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
• Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

 Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries).

 Criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews.

 Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries.’

Source:  International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance