London, England Image by iStock

(JTA) — Posters stating “Israel is a racist endeavor” appeared on bus stops in London a day after Britain’s opposition Labour Party voted to accept the international definition of anti-Semitism, but with a free speech clause on criticizing Israel.

A section of the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, definition of anti-Semitism states that “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” is an anti-Semitic act. Labour had initially left this example, and three others, out of the definition it was going to approve earlier this summer.

London’s mayor on Thursday ordered the signs to be taken down. It is not clear who hung the signs though the London Palestine Action group posted photos of the bus stops on Twitter under the heading: “Created by ethnic cleansing; maintained by ethnic exclusion. Israel is a #racistendeavour.”

Antisemitism Notebook

Your weekly guide through the news and the noise of how rising antisemitism and disputes over how to address it are shaping American Jewish life.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Transport for London told the London-based Jewish Chronicle through a spokesperson that the posters were “absolutely not authorized” by the public transportation authority or the advertising company. “It is fly posting and therefore an act of vandalism which we take extremely seriously. We have instructed our contractors to remove any of these posters found on our network immediately,” the spokesperson also said.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted for the Jewish Chronicle found that nearly 40 percent of British Jews would “seriously consider emigrating” if Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn became Prime Minister.

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount