In a significant move to combat rising global hatred, the Dominican Republic has formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, becoming the 48th nation and seventh in Latin America to do so. President Luis Abinader announced the decision, emphasizing that antisemitism is not solely a threat to Jewish communities but a danger to democratic coexistence and universal freedoms. This landmark step, formalized by the country’s foreign ministry, arrives amid a stark increase in antisemitic incidents worldwide, with a reported 32.5% rise in March 2026 compared to the previous year. U.S. Special Envoy Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun praised the Dominican Republic’s commitment, urging other Latin American nations to follow suit and highlighting the Trump administration’s efforts in holding universities accountable, prosecuting hate crimes, and reforming visa vetting programs as a model. The IHRA definition, which describes antisemitism as ‘a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews’ and includes contemporary manifestations like Holocaust denial and holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions, aims to provide a consistent framework for identifying and responding to antisemitism. President Abinader connected this decision to the Dominican Republic’s historical role as a refuge for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, pledging 50 million Dominican pesos to expand the Jewish Museum of Sosúa. The move positions the Dominican Republic alongside countries like Argentina, Colombia, and Costa Rica in adopting the IHRA framework, sending a powerful regional message against indifference and hate, with the U.S. pledging support for Latin American efforts to ensure religious liberty and freedom for all.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
