Israel takes over IHRA presidency from the UK

Israel has formally taken over the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) for the next year, succeeding the UK.

Yad Vashem chair Dani Dayan has been appointed to the role of chair, taking over from Lord Pickles, the UK’s Special Envoy for post-Holocaust Issues.

Israel’s presidency extends through February 2026 and coincides with the 80^th anniversary year of the liberation of Auschwitz, which was marked on Holocaust Memorial Day in January.

This is only the second time Israel has held the presidency, and the first since 2010.

Its term will focus on the theme of “The Crossroads of Generations”, in reference to the vanishingly small number of living Holocaust survivors who are able to share their testimony with young people.

Speaking ahead of the official handover ceremony, Dayan said: “We are at a crossroads of generations, and the responsibility of preserving the memory and sharing the stories of the Holocaust will soon rest solely on our shoulders.

“The voices of victims and survivors demand that we honor their legacy by standing firm against Holocaust denial, distortion, and hatred.

"In a world witnessing a dramatic rise in antisemitism and grappling with the challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies, our obligation to historical truth has never been more critical.”

Under its presidency, Israel will hold two plenary sessions of IHRA member states, one in June and another in December, to discuss measures to perpetuate and improve Holocaust remembrance and education.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar added: “Today, 80 years after the end of World War II and the Holocaust, the State of Israel assumes the leadership of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

"It is our duty not only to remember the Holocaust but also to ensure the existence of the Jewish state, which serves as the guarantee of Jewish continuity for generations to come, while also preserving and passing on the memory of the Holocaust to future generations.”

The IHRA was created in 1998 and now boasts 35 member states, plus eight observer nations. Moreover, 46 countries have adopted the organisation’s working definition of antisemitism, including the UK, USA, France, Germany and Poland.