House Resolution 707

House Resolution 707

H.Res.707 - Condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and rejecting
attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred or violent attacks as an
acceptable expression of disapproval or frustration over political
events in the Middle East or elsewhere.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Res. 707 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 707

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

September 18, 2014.

Whereas there is clear evidence of increasing incidents
and expressions of anti-Semitism throughout the world;

Whereas on April 30, 2014, the United States Department of State
released the International Religious Freedom Report for 2013 and
noted that,

``Throughout Europe, the historical stain of anti-Semitism
continued to be a fact of life on Internet fora, in soccer stadiums,
and through Nazi-like salutes, leading many individuals who are
Jewish to conceal their religious identity.'';

Whereas anti-Semitic acts committed and recorded in 2014 around
the world, including countries in the Middle East, Latin America,
Europe, and North America, include incidents of murder at Jewish
sites, violent attacks and death threats against Jews, as well as gun
violence, arson, graffiti, anti-Semitic cartoons, and other property
desecration at Jewish cemeteries, places of worship, and communal
activity;

Whereas a survey by the Anti-Defamation League of attitudes
towards Jews in more than 100 countries around the world,
released in May 2014 found that over a quarter of the people
surveyed (26 percent), and nearly three quarters of those surveyed
in the Middle East (74 percent) hold anti-Semitic views, a stunning
indicator of the stubborn resilience of anti-Semitic beliefs, even in
countries where few Jews reside;

Whereas the Anti-Defamation League survey also found that
a majority of people surveyed overall have either not heard
of the Holocaust or do not believe it happened as has been
documented by factual accounts and recorded by history;

Whereas President Barack Obama said in his remarks at the USC
Shoah Foundation Dinner on May 7, 2014, ``. . . if the memories
of the Shoah survivors teach us anything, it is that silence is evil's
greatest co-conspirator. And it's up to us--each of us, every one
of us--to forcefully condemn any denial of the Holocaust. It's up
to us to combat not only anti-Semitism, but racism and bigotry and
intolerance in all their forms, here and around the world. It's up
to us to speak out against rhetoric that threatens the existence of a
Jewish homeland and to sustain America's unshakeable commitment
to Israel's security'';

Whereas in 2004, Congress passed the Global Anti-Semitism Review
Act, which established an Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-
Semitism, headed by a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-
Semitism;

Whereas the United States Government has consistently supported
efforts to address the rise in anti-Semitism through its bilateral
relationships and through engagement in international organizations
such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Organization of American
States (OAS);

Whereas in recent decades there has been a clear and troubling
pattern of increased violence against Jewish persons and their
property, purportedly in connection with increased opposition
to policies enacted by the Government of Israel;

Whereas during Israel's 2014 Operation Protective Edge aiming to
stem the rocket fire and terrorist infiltrations by Hamas, Jews
and Jewish institutions and property were attacked in Europe and
elsewhere, including attempts to invade a synagogue in Paris, fire-
bombings of synagogues in France and Germany, assaults on Jewish
individuals, and swastikas spray-painted in a heavily Jewish area of
London and also in Rome's historic Jewish quarter;

Whereas anti-Semitic imagery and comparisons of Jews and Israel to
Nazis have been on display at demonstrations against Israel's actions
in Gaza throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and
Latin America, including--

(1) placards comparing Israeli leaders to Nazis, accusing Israel of
carrying out a ``Holocaust'' against Palestinians, and equating the
Jewish Star of David with the Nazi swastika, and

(2) demonstrations that have included chants of ``Death to Jews'',
``Death to Israel'', or expressions of support for suicide terrorism
against Israeli or Jewish civilians;

Whereas the Governments in France, Germany, and Italy, the three
countries where the majority of incidents have occurred, have
strongly condemned anti-Semitism as unacceptable in European
society and have all made clear statements that such attacks on
their Jewish communities are intolerable, and they have matched
those words with strong law enforcement;

Whereas some civil society leaders have set strong examples,
including the condemnation by the Union of Mosques of France,
on behalf of their 500 mosques, called the attacks ``morally unjust
and unacceptable'', and stated, ``nothing can justify any act that
could harm our Jewish compatriots, their institutions or their places
of worship'';

Whereas the largest newspaper in circulation in Germany, Bild,
featured statements against anti-Semitism from politicians,
business leaders, civic leaders, media personalities and celebrities
with ``Never Again Jew Hatred'' on the front page; and

Whereas Congress has played an essential role in illustrating and
counteracting the resurgence of anti-Semitism worldwide: Now,
therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) unequivocally condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects
attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred or violent attacks as an
acceptable expression of disapproval or frustration over political
events in the Middle East or elsewhere;

(2) decries and condemns the comparison of Israel to Nazis as an
insult to the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust and an
affront to those who survived and their children and grandchildren,
the righteous gentiles who saved Jewish lives at peril to their own
lives and to those who bravely fought to defeat the Nazis;

(3) applauds those foreign leaders who have condemned anti-
Semitic acts and calls on those who have yet to take firm action
against anti-Semitism in their countries, to do so;

(4) reaffirms its support for the mandate of the United States
Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism as part of the
broader policy priority of fostering international religious freedom;

(5) supports expanded Holocaust educational programs that
increase awareness, counter prejudice, and enhance efforts
to teach the universal lessons of the Holocaust; and

(6) urges the Secretary of State to--

(A) maintain combating anti-Semitism as a United States foreign
policy priority;

(B) ensure that the instruments of United States public diplomacy,
including the United States Representative to the

Organization of Islamic Conference, are utilized to effectively
combat anti-Semitism;

(C) ensure high-level United States participation in the 2014
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) high
level event marking the 10th anniversary of the 2004 OSCE Berlin
Declaration against anti-Semitism;

(D) urge governments to ensure that adequate laws are in place
to punish anti-Semitic violence against persons and property;

(E) continue robust United States reporting on anti-Semitism by the
Department of State and the Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor
Anti-Semitism;

(F) provide necessary training and instruction for personnel posted
in United States embassies and missions to analyze and report on
anti-Semitic violence against persons and property as well as the
response of governments to those incidents;

(G) ensure that United States Government efforts to train law
enforcement personnel and prosecutors abroad incorporate tools
to address anti-Semitic violence against persons and property; and

(H) strongly support the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe's specialized efforts to monitor and address anti-
Semitism, including through support for its law enforcement and
civil society training programs.

Attest:

Clerk.

https://www.congress.gov/…/113th-…/house-resolution/707/text