ICYMI: House Passes Resolution Warning About Rising Anti-Semitism in Europe Without Opposition

On Tuesday, the U.S. House passed without opposition a measure condemning the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Europe and urging the federal government to work with other countries and Jewish groups to fight against it.

Two members of the Florida delegation--Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Democrat U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch--were original co-sponsors of U.S. Rep. Chris Smith's, R-NJ, resolution. Smith and the two Florida representatives are co-chairs of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism.

Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Curt Clawson, Carlos Curbelo, Ron DeSantis and Mario Diaz-Balart and Florida Democrats U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel, Alan Grayson, Patrick Murphy, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson were also co-sponsors of the resolution.

Bilirakis, who sits on the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, warned about a "tragic surge of global anti-Semitism that has been brewing" across the globe before focusing on Smith's resolution.

"Stemming from the rise of organized anti-Semitic attacks throughout Europe, H.R. 354 lists specific ways that the U.S. government can collaborate with European governments and inter-governmental bodies, including efforts to formally recognize and partner with Jewish community groups focused on preparedness, mitigation, and response related to anti-Semitic attacks and effectively train law enforcement personnel to respond to anti-Semitic violence," Bilirakis said on Tuesday.

"We have witnessed an alarming rise in anti-Semitism around the globe," Deutch noted. "This resolution calls on countries to be sufficiently prepared to act preemptively and respond swiftly to cases of violence and intimidation against Jewish communities by improving data collection and reporting and building partnerships between the communities and law enforcement agencies. Jewish communities around the world experience attacks and intimidation on a regular basis and no one, Jewish or otherwise, should ever have to accept that they feel targeted and unsafe and that their lives are always at risk. "

Murphy focused on the matter on Tuesday as he explained his support of the resolution.

"I strongly support this resolution regarding the safety and security of Jewish communities in Europe," Murphy said. "Seventy years after the Holocaust, we are seeing an alarming spike in anti-Semitic activity and violence targeting Jews throughout Europe. In the past year alone, there have been hundreds of violent acts targeting the Jewish community, including deadly attacks at a kosher supermarket in Paris and the Great Synagogue in Copenhagen. As a world leader, the United States must make every effort to work with our European partners to keep the Jewish community safe and secure. This resolution does just that by encouraging the United States to work with European governments to create partnerships with Jewish community groups to improve preparedness and responsiveness to anti-Semitic attacks, create open lines of communication to share information about potential threats, expand relationships with local law enforcement, and to help develop baseline security standards for Jewish organizations and facilities. It also urges European allies to appoint senior officials to coordinate efforts to combat anti-Semitism and hold law enforcement accountable for training to monitor and respond to anti-Semitic violence. Additionally, this resolution commends the work of the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism and its efforts in promoting religious freedom around the world.

"As a member of the Intelligence Committee and the Bipartisan Task Force on Combating Anti-Semitism, I understand how crucial it is to the stabilization of communities in Europe that we forcefully stand up to anti-Semitism," Murphy continued. "Anti-Semitism does not just impact the Jewish community. When this hatred flourishes, it affects all ethnic, religious, and other minority groups. Given the urgency of addressing this growing threat, I am proud to have prioritized working to combat the rise in anti-Semitism, leading my colleagues in writing to the Special Envoy calling for the U.S. to continue to be a global leader in combating all forms of hate. My colleagues also joined me in encouraging the United Nations to work with member states to curb anti-Semitism by enacting strong hate crime laws, expanding education on diversity and tolerance in their own countries, and encouraging heads of state to forcefully speak out about the dangers of anti-Semitism.

"This resolution furthers these efforts by highlighting the safety and security needs of Jewish communities across Europe and the role our European partners have to play in combating anti-Semitism. I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in passing this urgent resolution," Murphy concluded.

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