This resolution condemns anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to combat anti-Semitism in all forms. It also recognizes the need for the United States and Europe to work together to fight global anti-Semitism and supports the full implementation of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 872 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 872
Reaffirming the need for transatlantic cooperation to combat
antisemitism in Europe.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 15, 2023
Mr. Keating (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Reaffirming the need for transatlantic cooperation to combat
antisemitism in Europe.
Whereas antisemitism is a persistent scourge that must be confronted early and
aggressively whenever and wherever it emerges;
Whereas antisemitism in Europe is widespread according to many surveys and
studies, including those conducted by the European Union Agency for
Fundamental Rights, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and media outlets;
Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out barbaric terrorist attacks
against the people and State of Israel resulting in over 1,200 Israeli
deaths as well as the deaths of at least 30 Americans and the taking of
over 200 people as hostages;
Whereas the United States, European, and global leaders have condemned the
October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks which represent the worst single-day
massacre of Jews since the Holocaust;
Whereas in a showing of transatlantic solidarity for Israel, President Biden,
French President Macron, German Chancellor Scholz, Italian Prime
Minister Meloni, and UK Prime Minister Sunak released a joint statement
expressing their ``steadfast and united support to the State of
Israel,'' and their ``unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its
appalling acts of terrorism'';
Whereas in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Israel, antisemitic
incidents have been recorded across Europe, including in England,
Scotland, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland, the
Netherlands, and Turkey with the French Ministry of Interior recording
327 antisemitic incidents since October 7, and the CST, the UK's Jewish
community's security organization recording an increase of 581 percent
of antisemitic incidents;
Whereas in response to the increase in antisemitic incidents, United States and
European leaders have recognized the threat posed against the Jewish
community and have implemented measures to provide support;
Whereas, in September 2023 remarks at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights
Council, United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism
Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt noted, ``Around the globe we have witnessed
mass shootings at synagogues, violent attacks on Jewish people in the
streets and Jewish cemeteries desecrated. These antisemitic incidents
seek to divide us from one another, erode trust in government and
nongovernmental institutions, and undermine democracies'';
Whereas in testimony to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe in
December 2022, Rabbi Andrew Baker, Director of International Jewish
Affairs at the American Jewish Committee, urged European governments to
better tackle antisemitism and emphasized the importance of accurate
data collection, securing Jewish community buildings, and expanding
Holocaust education in Europe;
Whereas ADL's 2023 Global 100: An Index of Antisemitism, found that some of the
most stubborn anti-Jewish tropes remain deeply entrenched in 10 European
countries, with roughly one in four people harboring extensive classic
antisemitic beliefs. The report found perpetually high antisemitic
attitudes across Europe including among 37 percent of individuals
surveyed in Hungary, 35 percent in Poland, 29 percent in Ukraine, 26
percent in Russia, 26 percent in Spain, 22 percent in Belgium, 15
percent in France, 12 percent in Germany, 10 percent in the UK, and 6
percent in the Netherlands;
Whereas ADL also found that while Holocaust awareness is virtually universal
across Europe, Holocaust denial and distortion remain high;
Whereas in Hungary and Ukraine, 19 percent believe the Holocaust is a myth and
did not happen, or say the numbers of Jews who died were ``greatly
exaggerated'';
Whereas elsewhere in Europe, survey data found that 17 percent of Russians, 15
percent of Poles, 5 percent of Germans, and 4 percent of Dutch
respondents denied the Holocaust occurred;
Whereas Tel Aviv University's Antisemitism Worldwide Report for 2022 found a
persistently high number of antisemitic incidents across Europe,
including 1,652 incidents in the UK, 436 incidents in France, 241
incidents in Italy, 45 incidents in Hungary, 23 incidents in Spain, 14
incidents in Sweden, and nine incidents in Bulgaria;
Whereas Tel Aviv University also found that the COVID-19 pandemic sparked an 18-
percent rise in antisemitic hate speech, especially online;
Whereas the World Jewish Congress has also warned about the proliferation of
conspiracy theories blaming Jews for creating or spreading the virus;
Whereas surveys by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the
European Commission found that while almost 90 percent of Jewish
respondents in Europe believe antisemitism is increasing, only 36
percent of the European general public think that it is increasing;
Whereas the European Union has stepped up its efforts to combat antisemitism,
but significant work remains;
Whereas the European Commission appointed a Coordinator on combating
antisemitism and fostering Jewish life in 2015, established a Working
Group on combating antisemitism in 2018, and adopted the first ever
European Union strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish
life in 2021, which found that ``contemporary antisemitism can be found
in radical and fringe groups espousing right-wing, left-wing or Islamist
extremism, it can hide behind anti-Zionism, but it can also be found in
the centre of society'';
Whereas the United States and European allies have worked closely in the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to secure
adoption of the 2014 Declaration on Enhancing Efforts to Combat Anti-
Semitism, and to produce practical guides on addressing the security
needs of Jewish communities and countering antisemitism through
education;
Whereas the United States, the European Commission, and many EU Member States
have embraced the nonlegally binding working definition of antisemitism
inclusive of its examples adopted in 2016 by the member states of the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), as a valuable tool
to help understand and enhance efforts to counter antisemitism;
Whereas, according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, European
Union countries collect different types of data on antisemitism and use
different methodologies, which prevents direct comparison between
countries;
Whereas some European countries do not collect any official data at all;
Whereas, in January 2021, the Congressionally established Special Envoy to
Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, within the United States Department of
State, was elevated to hold the rank of ambassador, a signal of strong
commitment of the United States Government in combating antisemitism;
Whereas, in May 2023, the Biden administration released the first-ever United
States National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism declaring that
``protecting the Jewish community from antisemitism is essential to our
broader fight against all forms of hate, bigotry, and bias--and to our
broader vision of a thriving, inclusive, and diverse democracy'';
Whereas it is clear that antisemitism and violent extremists abroad provide
material, ideological, or financial support for antisemitic movements in
the United States;
Whereas hate has no borders, and antisemitic conspiracy theories and harassment
continue to spread and promulgate online, a serious concern around the
world;
Whereas while antisemitism often appears in subtle ways, such as insensitive
remarks that are brushed off, or negative stereotypes that go
unchallenged, these incidents have the possibility to escalate to
violence or genocide if they are left unchecked; and
Whereas antisemitism threatens not only the Jewish community, but the human
rights of all persons, and poses serious risks to communities across the
transatlantic alliance and the world: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns antisemitism in the United States and around
the world and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to
combat antisemitism in all its forms;
(2) condemns Hamas and its acts of terrorism targeted
against the Jewish people and the State of Israel as well as
recognizes the need for increased vigilance due to the
subsequent threat of further antisemitic attacks in the United
States and Europe;
(3) reaffirms the strong transatlantic alliance between the
United States and Europe and recognizes the need to work
together to take concrete steps to fight global antisemitism in
the world and online;
(4) supports the full implementation of the United States
National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism;
(5) recognizes the importance of the Office of the Special
Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism as well as the Office
of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues in combating
antisemitism;
(6) calls on all European governments and the European
Union to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and
security of Jewish communities in Europe;
(7) recognizes that the European Commission has taken bold
action to address antisemitism by adopting the first ever
European Union strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering
Jewish life in 2021;
(8) urges all European Union member states to develop their
own national strategies or action plans against antisemitism,
with a focus on stopping both ``real-world'' and online
harassment and abuse;
(9) encourages European leaders to fully implement their
respective strategies on combating antisemitism, standardize
their data collection of antisemitic incidents, and share best
practices in combating antisemitism;
(10) calls on European governments to ensure that school
curricula include the Holocaust and modern-day antisemitism,
and that law enforcement education includes hate crime
prevention and response training; and
(11) encourages the United States Special Envoy to Monitor
and Combat Antisemitism and the United States Special Envoy for
Holocaust issues to focus on addressing persistent antisemitism
and Holocaust distortion and denial in Europe.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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