A US lawyer who played the lead role in drawing up what became the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism says he is “flabbergasted” that AHPRA has adopted the definition, claiming it was never designed as a regulatory instrument.

The watchdog is facing a backlash from some doctors, health workers and civil liberties groups after announcing it will use the definition as a reference tool.

It defines anti-Semitism as a “certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews”.

But it goes on to list examples such as comparing contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis or denying Jews the right to self-determination by claiming that establishing the state of Israel was a ‘racist endeavour’.