Attacks in Denmark & Modern Antisemitism

OHPI briefings highlight a series of issues regarding online antisemitism

Dear Supporter,

OHPI has for some time been warning against a rising tide of antisemitism online. The tragic events in Denmark over the weekend, following the attacks in France last month, have shocked the world. Discussion of these attacks online, as well as the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day, have let to an outpouring of antisemitic comments.

Some comments were deliberately and knowingly antisemitic, for example, the posting of Holocaust denial videos on our Holocaust Memorial Day thread. Of greater concern, however, were those posts where people simply didn't seeing the inappropriateness of their comments. News of the attack on the Synagogue in Denmark, which killed a member of the community there, immediately attracted a comment about Israel - off topic and entirely irrelevant.

Our briefing on January 27, Holocaust Memorial Day, argued that Holocaust denial should be banned from social media platforms as part of their policy on hate speech. Our publication led to a deluge of antisemitic comments on our Facebook page. We countered these arguments in two separate briefings. The first looked at the deep and multiple roots of antisemitism. The second extensively tackled the problem of Modern Antisemitism, a specific form of antisemitic argument related to Israel and the Holocaust. A third article took the form of a brief statement on the terror attacks in Denmark. Dr Oboler has also spoke recently on the subject of antisemitism at the North Eastern Jewish Centre and at the Council of Christians and Jews.

Our work on online antisemitism will continue through the month as we gather reports on our online hate reporting tool Fight Against Hate. Our aim is to build a significant database of reports of online antisemitism before the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism is held in Israel in early May. We need your help to gather these reports. Register at fightagainsthate.com and report the online antisemitism, and other forms of hate, you encounter on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

You can also help us by making a donation at http://ohpi.org.au/donate/. All donations to OHPI are tax deductible in Australia. You can also help us raise our profile by sharing this newsletter by email, liking us on Facebook and/or following us on Twitter.

Regards,

Dr Andre Oboler
CEO, Online Hate Prevention Institute

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Holocaust Denial on Social Media

On the Holocaust Memorial Day, OHPI urged social media companies to ban Holocaust denial as hate speech

To mark the Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27, OHPI published a briefing calling on social media companies to add Holocaust denial to their list of banned hate speech.

Our briefing discussed how Holocaust denial is accepted as antisemitic hate speech by many different government agencies around the world. It has been discredited by the maisntream academia and media. Unfortunately, social media has provided self-styled Holocaust revisionists a platform to take such theories to the public without any checks or filters. Social media platforms should put a stop to this.

The briefing also looked at how mocking the victims of the Holocaust or comparing the Israeli government to the Nazis was also a form of antisemitism, as it aimed to insult and hurt the Jewish community.

The briefing also highlighted three Holocaust denial items to report along with instructions on how to do it.

thinking to the mainstream without the filters and checks provided by academic bodies or journalists - See more at: http://ohpi.org.au/holocaust-denial-social-media/#sthash.QoavMGTp.dpuf thinking to the mainstream without the filters and checks provided by academic bodies or journalist
The briefing also highlighted three items of Holocaust denial to report along with instructions on how to do it.

Rise of Modern Antisemitism

OHPI illustrates how modern antisemitism plays out on social media

On February 9, OHPI published a briefing that looked at "modern antisemitism" and the role played by the social media in propagating it.

The French writer and philosopher, Bernard-Henri Lévy, defined "modern antisemitism" as the coming together of three arguments:

Anti-zionism as the epitome of all evil
Holocaust denial
The Holocaust is being used to silence discussions on other genocides, particularly, of the Palestinians

All of these arguments are based on false premises, yet taken together they paint a picture of a diabolical Jew who is using false memories of victimhood to legitimise an illegitimate state. Thus, he is to be hated. Such an argument leaves no room for Jews to discuss self-determination, their own history of victimhood or Israel's stand on the Israeli-Palestine conflict without being branded as evil.

Our briefing highlighted numerous comments made on OHPI's facebook page following the publication of a briefing on Holocaust denial (discussed above). The comments show how the Israeli-Palestine conflict is being used to shutdown any legitimate concerns raised by Jews with respect to rising antisemitism. To conflate Israeli actions in Palestine to the Nazi government policy and Holocaust is a part of Hamas' social media strategy to turn public opinion against Israel.

OTHER STORIES

Brief summary of other stories.

Denmark Attacked
In response to the terror attacks in Denmark, OHPI released a short statement reminding people of the importance of responsible free speech. It also linked to the report we published in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

because Jews were the original “other”, at least in Western culture - See more at: http://ohpi.org.au/the-why-of-rising-antisemitism/#sthash.1NIzi3I1.dpuf

Jews were the original “other”, at least in Western culture - See more at: http://ohpi.org.au/the-why-of-rising-antisemitism/#sthash.1NIzi3I1.dpuf

The why of rising antisemitism
OHPI looks at why Jews in particular are targeted in a briefing. It debunks some of the popular theories on the subject, and suggests that the reason could be that the Jews are the "original other", at least in the Western culture.

because Jews were the original “other”, at least in Western culture - See more at: http://ohpi.org.au/the-why-of-rising-antisemitism/#sthash.1NIzi3I1.dpuf

Jews were the original “other”, at least in Western culture - See more at: http://ohpi.org.au/the-why-of-rising-antisemitism/#sthash.1NIzi3I1.dpuf

Govt launches Report Online Extremism tool
The Australian government has launched an online tool for people to report illegal or offensive extremist material. The tool differs from OHPI's fightagainsthate.com which enables both extremist content & hate speech to be reported.

Talk at the North Eastern Jewish Centre
On January 31, Dr Oboler gave a talk on responsible free speech in light of the terrorist attacks in France at the North Eastern Jewish Centre. The talk discussed OHPI recent report on the subject.

Talk at the Council of Christian and Jews
On February 1, Dr Oboler spoke at the Council of Christians and Jews ( Victoria) on the re-emergence of old antisemitism through new media, including myths such as deicide and blood libel.

The World Interfaith Week
On February 5, 2015,OHPI’s CEO Dr Andre Oboler attended the opening of the World Interfaith Harmony Week in the Victorian Parliament.

On February 5, 2015,OHPI’s CEO Dr Andre Oboler attended the opening of the World Interfaith Harmony Week in the Victorian Parliament.

The Victorian Multicultural Commission Chair spoke about peace, embracing being a part of each other’s community while still respecting and maintaining our differences.

- See more at: http://ohpi.org.au/world-interfaith-harmony-week-at-the-victorian-parliament/#sthash.CKvyoJol.dpuf

MEDIA COVERAGE

February 13, 2015: The Melbourne Jewish Report carried a profile of OHPI.