Is it an attempt to eliminate discrimination or discredit criticisms of Israel?

Passionate advocates showed up for a hearing on anti-Semitism at the state House today, where lawmakers were supposed to consider adopting a formal state definition of the term.

Only the meeting got postponed minutes before it was scheduled to start, and frustrations boiled over about both the lack of access to the committee and the definitions up for consideration.

Senior Correspondent Joanna Gagis was there.

We don't have time.

For this.

Pull the bill.

A Senate committee hearing scheduled for today was supposed to allow public testimony on a bill that would create a state definition of antisemitism.

But that portion of the hearing and the state government wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee ended before it even began.

My colleagues are in caucuses getting ready for the 11 a.m. voting session.

This meeting is temporarily adjourned.

One bill would adopt the international Holocaust Remembrance Alliance or IHRA definition of antisemitism that would make criticism of Israel and Zionism a form of antisemitism.

Another bill would require that definition of antisemitism and one of Islamophobia to be included in the state diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

But none were heard because the senators left to participate in an all day voting session, leaving these folks furious.

Canceling or suspending the hearing.

While we're all here, waiting to testify is doubly undemocratic.

I was a bit surprised to see a committee hearing happening the morning of a voting session, but I was certainly surprised to see it suddenly adjourned, especially before bills that some people had come to speak out about and then saying will reconvene after the voting session in no time given.

Surprising even for former Assemblywoman and Trenton insider Sadaf Jaffer, who came to oppose the bills.

I stand against all forms of hate.

I also believe in freedom of speech, and I think that all of us should have the right to critique any government, whether it's our government or the Israeli government or any government in the world.

This bill uses definitions that will criminalize speech against the state of Israel, saying that if you call the state of Israel racist, that's illegal and can be criminally charged.

Abdel Basset Abdullah has lost 45 direct family members in Gaza, including his 17 year old nephew who was shelled to death last week.

I would just have to sit down and watch what's happening to my family without being able to criticize it.

Many from the Jewish community say New Jersey should do more to stop antisemitism, but adopting this definition would do nothing to help that cause.

The state should engage in the struggle against antisemitism.

But you don't do that by actually adopting a definition that its purpose mostly is to protect a state from criticism rather than a people.

Right from prejudice, persecution and discrimination.

Stockton University Professor Raz Segal says New Jersey should adopt the Jerusalem Declaration of antisemitism that hundreds of Jewish scholars in Holocaust history have adopted.

Even pro-Israel Zionist groups showed up today to oppose these bills.

We actively debate people who consider themselves anti-Zionist, who won't agree with us on a lot of these things.

We think that's the proper way for things to happen as long as people are not threatening, not promoting violence, which we have a New Jersey law that covers that kind of thing.

There is a difference between being opposing to Zionism and opposing or being antisemitic.

Those are two different things.

We cannot equate.

Them.

Committee Chair Senator Beach did inform some attendees the hearing would be rescheduled, though no date has been confirmed.

In Trenton, I'm Joanna Gagis NJ.

Spotlight News.