The Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism is an international gathering for assessing the state of antisemitism globally and formulating effective forms of societal and governmental response. The forum is a project of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The first forum took place in 2004 and has since taken place every two to three years in Jerusalem. The Sixth Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism was held from 15-21 of March 2018. This forum was held in cooperation with the Israel Ministry for Diaspora Affairs.
The 2018 forum focused on the continuing challenge of web antisemitism and cyberhate, 1500 participants, along with senior government ministers, from Israel, Europe and Latin America attended the forum.
Statements adopted by various Global Forums
At the 5th GFCA, in 2015, a document confronting Cyberhate and Online Antisemitism in Europe were signed. During the 6th GFCA, in 2018, Israeli Justice Minister, Ayelet Shaked, co-signed a joint statement on Countering online Hate Speech and Incitement to Violence and Terrorism, along with the Justice Ministers of Italy, Malta, and the Hellenic Republic. This joint statement recognised freedom of expression as a fundamental right of a democratic society which has been enhanced by the technology of the internet; it noted however that internet companies needed to do more to combat and differentiate between freedom of expression and hate speech.
Attendees
Key attendees of the GFCA in 2013 include:
| Country | Attendees | Title | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|
 Canada
|
Dr. Mario Silva | Chairman of the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) for the year 2013 | |
 Greece
|
Konstantinos Karagounis | Deputy Minister of Justice, Transparency & Human Rights | |
 Hungary
|
Dr. Bence Retvari | Secretary of State, Ministry of Public Administration and Justice | |
 Israel
|
Zeev Elkin | Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs |
|
 Lithuania
|
Neris Germanas | Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania |
Key attendees of the GFCA in 2015 included:
| Country | Attendees | Title | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada
|
Tim Uppal | Minister of State for Multiculturalism | |
 France
|
Anne Hidalgo | Mayor of Paris | |
 Germany
|
Heiko Maas | Minister of Justice | |
| Israel
|
Benjamin Netanyahu
Naftali Bennett |
Prime Minister of Israel
Minister for Diaspora Affairs |
|
 UN
|
Nickolay Mladenov | Special UN Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process | Delivered a message from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon |
Key attendees of the GFCA in 2018 included:
| Country | Atendees | Title | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bulgaria
|
Rumen Radev | President of Bulgaria | |
| France
|
Manuel Valls | former Prime Minister of France | |
| Israel
|
Benjamin Netanyahu | Prime Minister of Israel
Minister of Education Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Former Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel |
Keynote Speaker |
| Greece
|
Stavros Kontonis | Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights | |
 Italy
|
Imam Yahya Sergio Yahe Pallavicini | Vice President of the Islamic Community of Italy
Minister of Justice |
|
 Malta
|
Owen Bonnici | Minister of Justice, Culture and Local Government | |
 UK
|
Ephraim Mirvis | Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth | |
| UN
|
Irina Bokova | former Director-General of UNESCO | |
 US
|
Malcom I. Hoenlein | Executive Vice Chairman of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
US Ambassador to the state of Israel The former mayor of Charlottesville President of WJC Actress and Neuroscientist |
Keynote Speaker |
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References
- "The Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism (GFCA)". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Rosen, Armin (21 March 2018). "The State of Israel Confronts Anti-Semitism. But What Is It?". Tablet Magazine.
- Van Zuiden, Moshe (24 March 2018). "The 6th Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism 2018, Jerusalem". Times of Israel.
- "Ministry of Diaspora Affairs: AntiSemitism". www.mda.gov.il. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
- "GFCA Events and Schedules" (PDF).
- "Official Statement 2015". Israel Foreign Ministry.
- "Official Joint Justice Minister Statement". Israel Foreign Ministry.
- "Secretary-General's message to the 5th Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism [delivered by Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process]". UN.org.
- Zieve, Tamara (21 March 2018). "France seeks to close loopholes allowing online antisemitism". The Jerusalem Post.
- Sugarman, Daniel (21 March 2018). "Chief Rabbi condemns Muslim faith leaders for 'keeping shtum' on antisemitism". The Jewish Chronicle News.
- Cashman, Greer Fay (18 March 2018). "Big Bang: Rivlin meets actress Mayim Bialik ahead of antisemitism forum". The Jerusalem Post.