On antisemitism
We at Volt believe that there is no place for anti-Semitism in our society and we stand firmly against it. The number of incidents and targeted attacks - as we have seen in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and London - is increasing and this is deeply concerning.
Growing antisemitism in society sparked discussions within Volt. Besides discussing how to combat antisemitism, there was also discussion about the definition and the difference between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government.
Last week, an article was published in the German news outlet Die Zeit about cases of antisemitism within Volt, and we would like to provide some clarity.
Sadly we have had a few incidents of antisemitism within our party. In response, we consistently investigated these incidents and took action where necessary: individual sanctions were imposed, the moderation on our internal platform was strengthened, our code of conduct was updated, and external experts were consulted for advice on how to prevent such incidents. We also launched dialogue sessions on the meaning of anti-Semitism, its forms, and how we can combat it.
A new definition of antisemitism was adopted at the Volt Europa Congress in Frankfurt in November 2025, following motions filed by the members in accordance with our democratic practices.
For some, however, it felt uncomfortable to hold a discussion on what constitutes antisemitism. The concern is understandable. At the same time, we recognize that questions about the space to criticize the Israeli government are also a significant concern in society. We believe these are important conversations to have, even if they are difficult.
For this reason, we supported our members to bring this topic forward as an agenda point at the congress. The discussion also featured David Feldman, a prominent scholar in this field, who serves as co-director of BISA, Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London, and Professor of the History of Antisemitism at the University of Melbourne.
After the Jerusalem Definition of Antiseitism (JDA) was approved to be adopted by Volt, a group of people left the party. After many efforts to involve them, it is unfortunate to conclude that we were unable to make them feel at home.
Volt aims to create a society where there is no discrimination. We remain committed to combating antisemitism and all other forms of racism.
Francesca Romana D'Antuono and Mels Klabbers, Co-Presidents of Volt Europa