The New Jersey Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee has cancelled a vote on a bill which would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into state law.
The bill, which was one of several bills recently introduced, was pulled from the committee’s agenda after a several hours break.
The committee’s Chairman, Senator James Beach, did not provide a reason for pulling the bill, but said it will be posted again in mid-April.
The announcement came several hours after the committee adjourned unexpectedly.
A large crowd was on hand for the hearing, with supporters and opponents filling the room.
In addition, a pro-Palestinian protest was held outside the State House.
The IHRA definition refers to “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
Opponents of the law claim that the definition stifles their free speech and outlaws criticism of Israel.
Supporters of bill have noted that the bill does not restrict speech at all and allows for criticism of Israel.
NJ State Senate Delays Vote on Antisemitsm Bill Following Opposition From Antisemitic Groups
The NJ State Senate on Monday canceled a vote on whether to adopt IHRA’s definiton of antisemitism into law after several groups of ardent antisemites argued that the bill, if passed, would prevent them from “intimidating Jewish students on college campuses and violently assaulting them.”
The vehemently antisemitic groups also argued that adaptation of the IHRA definition “might prevent large groups of antisemitic, barbaric and cold-blooded sadists from conducting an October seventh-like event.”
“If we start to ban armed sadists from entering jewish homes and burning jewish families alive, as the October seventh antisemites did in Gaza, it would be an unprecedented violation of our constitutional and antisemitic right to do as we please,” said Ahmad Samadi, a distinguished, renowned antisemite and a leading member of the Columbia University student group that intimidated jewish students into barricading themselves in a campus library in October.
“If the proposed bill passes the senate,” Mr. Samadi said, “everyday, run-of-the-mill antisemites like me might actually spend a few hours in jail for simply intimidating, torturing and burning a jewish student to death. I’m sorry, but a few hours prison time is an awful and scary prospect for my college buddies and I to even contemplate.”
A NJ State Senate member told reporters on Monday that language in the bill “would need to be rewritten in a way that would alleviate the fears of October seventh-like groups who rightfully fear that the bill, as currently crafted, would violate their constitutional right to congregate in public and brutally attack jews.”
Democrats don’t want to upset their hamas supporting base, they may lose election if the hamas Democrats don’t vote.