The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has criticised the Government’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
PSC IoM said the decision followed a letter to the Chief Minister in July 2025 from the Commonwealth Jewish Council, shared with Tynwald members before a debate on the island’s international legal obligations.
The group described the correspondence as an attempt by an external organisation to influence the democratic process.
Deeply Flawed
While emphasising that antisemitism must be firmly opposed, PSC IoM argued that the IHRA definition is “deeply flawed,” particularly due to its accompanying examples.
The organisation said these examples risk conflating antisemitism with legitimate criticism of Israel and Zionism, potentially restricting advocacy for Palestinian rights. It noted that only a minority of countries have adopted the definition, and some are reconsidering its wording.
Founded in 1982, PSC is the UK’s largest organisation focused solely on Palestinian rights.
The Isle of Man branch will now provide a formal local structure for campaigning, education, and engagement on Palestinian issues, replacing informal activity previously coordinated under Amnesty International Isle of Man.
PSC IoM has called on the government to clarify whether it has adopted the full definition, including its examples, and to ensure criticism of Israeli government policy is not automatically treated as antisemitic.
