IHRA definition used in UK schools antisemitism review, which could see Palestine badges banned
Teachers in British schools could be banned from wearing pro-Palestine badges after a government-commissioned review into antisemitism in schools.
The report by Sir David Bell, which is expected to be published shortly, will reportedly advise schools to "consider the appropriateness" of political expressions or identifiers and to adopt the contentious International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
The review is expected to reveal that three in five Jewish pupils have experienced antisemitism in school.
It has been widely reported that teachers could be told not to wear pro-Palestine badges, including the watermelon symbol, although the report is not set to advise a blanket ban on badges.
The review's terms of reference, seen by Middle East Eye, say it "will be using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism", which has been widely criticised for allegedly being used to target criticism of Israel.
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The terms of reference further say: "Antisemitic incidents in scope of the review include those undertaken by pupils, staff or leadership (including governors and trustees). The review will also consider external factors which either directly (e.g. an external protest outside the setting) or indirectly (e.g. a geopolitical event) may cause or contribute to antisemitism in the school or college."
The IHRA definition of antisemitism was originally formulated in 2004 as a non-legally binding tool to assist in monitoring antisemitism. Examples appended to it include "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour", which critics say can blur the line between antisemitism and political criticism of Israel.
Its author, Kenneth Stern, has warned against its use as a disciplinary or legal instrument, arguing that it may risk restricting legitimate political expression.
In 2018, rights expert Geoffrey Robertson QC issued a legal opinion stating that the definition is "likely in practice to chill free speech" by encouraging complaints against legitimate criticism of Israel.
The report will call on the Department for Education to provide teachers with new resources on addressing the "Israel-Palestine conflict", including strengthened guidance on impartiality.
Since Israel's genocide in Gaza began, there has been a reported rise in the number of schoolchildren referred to the Prevent counter-extremism programme for wearing pro-Palestine badges and stickers.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said of the review: "We have a duty to teach this generation and the next what antisemitism is, why it’s wrong and what happens when it takes hold. That goes for every school and college, whether or not they have Jewish staff and students."
Powell added: "Implementation is now my priority. I will make sure schools and colleges are better equipped to spot, challenge and prevent antisemitism wherever it happens."
Serious surge in antisemitism
The British government commissioned the antisemitism review after the Labour MP Damien Egan, vice chair of pro-Israel group Labour Friends of Israel, had a visit to a school cancelled because of planned pro-Palestine protests outside.
The government has said it will accept the report's recommendations in full.
The report is set to reveal a serious surge in antisemitism in schools, with review author Bell saying that "a general commitment to tackling racism or prejudice or hate has not properly identified antisemitism as a particular kind of hate. And certainly that's one of the themes of this report.
"We do need to name antisemitism as a particular kind of prejudice and hate, because I think if you don't name it, you don't actually know what you're tackling or what you're going to be able to do to respond to it."
The report will recommend media literacy lessons to help children recognise online antisemitic conspiracy theories.
It will further call for Holocaust education to frame antisemitism as a central and explicit theme of the atrocity.
Bell said teachers need to be impartial on political issues so pupils can "debate topical and difficult issues without feeling that teachers are imposing their own views on students".
The report is set to reveal that one in five pupils say they have witnessed antisemitism and three in five Jewish pupils have experienced it.
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