'A historic moment': Dominican Republic announces adoption of IHRA antisemitism definition

The Dominican Republic has officially adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, a significant step President Luis Abinader announced at the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s sixth-annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Santo Domingo.

“

Antisemitism is not a problem that concerns only the Jewish people. It is a threat to democratic coexistence and to the rights and freedoms of us all. This fight must be guided by universal principles, not by temporary political circumstances.

This decision makes the Dominican Republic the seventh nation in Latin America to embrace the IHRA framework, joining Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay. President Abinader stated at the gala dinner that antisemitism poses a threat to democratic coexistence and universal rights, asserting that combating it should not be influenced by temporary political circumstances. He clarified that rejecting antisemitism is not about taking sides in specific conflicts but about unequivocally condemning hatred and discrimination.

“

Rejecting antisemitism does not mean taking a position regarding a particular government or conflict. It means stating unequivocally that no political disagreement, no cause, and no circumstance can justify hatred, discrimination, or violence against an individual or a community.

"Through this decision, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to the memory of the Holocaust, to the protection of Jewish communities, and to the eradication of antisemitism in all its forms," Abinader declared. He also announced an allocation of 50 million pesos toward the construction of a new building for the Jewish Museum of Sosúa. US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Rabbi Ambassador Yehuda Kaploun hailed the move as a "historic moment" and expressed America's support for religious liberty in Latin America. Israel's Foreign Ministry welcomed the adoption, calling the IHRA definition an "essential tool" and hoping other regional countries will follow suit.

“

Through this decision, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to the memory of the Holocaust, to the protection of Jewish communities, and to the eradication of antisemitism in all its forms. It likewise reaffirms its rejection of every manifestation of hatred, religious intolerance, discrimination, and violence against any people or community.