The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has recently been under scrutiny for its stance on antisemitism, its definition, and the conflation of criticism towards Israel with antisemitism. The ADL, led by Jonathan Greenblatt, has been accused of manipulating the definition of antisemitism to shield Israel from criticism and delegitimize Palestinian rights. This has led to growing pushback from various Jewish and non-Jewish groups who believe that the fight against real antisemitism is being undermined.
Some of the disputes arise from differing views on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which includes “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.” Critics argue that this definition is too broad and can be used as a tool to stifle criticism of Israel's policies and actions. The ADL has been at the forefront of promoting this definition, leading to further criticism.
One of the incidents that sparked controversy was the ADL's reaction to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018. Rather than focusing entirely on the antisemitic nature of the crime, they linked it to criticism of Israel. This, critics say, distracts from the real issue of rising antisemitism in the United States and around the world.
Furthermore, the ADL has been accused of double standards when dealing with incidents involving different ethnic groups. For instance, when a Jewish man, Shlomo Rechnitz, made a controversial comment about the Black Lives Matter movement, the ADL was silent. However, when Black Lives Matter activists made comments criticizing Israel, the ADL was quick to label it as antisemitic.
These controversies have led to calls for reform within the ADL, with critics urging the organization to refocus on combating real antisemitism, without conflating it with legitimate criticism of Israel. They argue that not only would this make the fight against antisemitism more effective, but it would also help to promote a more balanced and fair discussion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.