[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 84 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 84
Expressing the commitment of Congress to continue to make it a priority
to fight anti-Semitism and to promote tolerance at home and abroad.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2008
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mrs. Maloney of New York, Mr. Pence, and
Mr. Klein of Florida) introduced the following joint resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Expressing the commitment of Congress to continue to make it a priority
to fight anti-Semitism and to promote tolerance at home and abroad.
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to protect minorities and to
oppose hatred based on nationality, religion, race, or ethnicity,
including countering anti-Semitism, at home and abroad;
Whereas according to the Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism Report released by
the Department of State's Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and
Combat Anti-Semitism, ``[o]ver the last decade, United States embassies
and consulates have reported an upsurge in anti-Semitism . . . and that
[a]nti-Semitic crimes range from acts of violence, including terrorist
attacks against Jews, to the desecration and destruction of Jewish
property . . . and that ``[a]nti-Semitic rhetoric, conspiracy theories,
and other propaganda circulate widely and rapidly by satellite
television, radio, and the Internet'';
Whereas the Anti-Semitism Report adopts the working definition of anti-Semitism
that the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC)
formulated in close collaboration with the Office of Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe;
Whereas the Anti-Semitism Report excerpts some key parts of the definition,
including: ``Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be
expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations
of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals
and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and
religious facilities.'';
Whereas the Anti-Semitism Report also states: ``Manifestations of anti-Semitism
`could also target the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish
collectivity. Anti-Semitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to
harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for ``why things go
wrong.'' It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action,
and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.''';
Whereas, for purposes of this resolution, the term ``anti-Semitism'' shall have
the meaning given that term in the Anti-Semitism Report, including
Holocaust denial or trivialization and denial of the Jewish people's
right to self-determination by claiming that the existence of the State
of Israel is a manifestation of racism, requiring behavior of Israel not
expected or demanded of any other democratic nation, using the symbols
and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel
or Israelis, or comparing Israeli policy with that of the Nazis;
Whereas expansion of media outlets, including television and the Internet, has
vastly increased opportunities to proliferate anti-Semitic propaganda;
Whereas government-sponsored anti-Semitism, including anti-Semitism expressed in
state-sponsored media, continues to be a significant problem in multiple
countries throughout the world;
Whereas anti-Semitic material in the media, particularly in cases where it is
sanctioned by the government, legitimizes anti-Semitism and foments
hatred and intolerance;
Whereas the Anti-Semitism Report lists Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Egypt, the
United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Belarus as some of the countries
with state-controlled media that distributes anti-Semitic materials;
Whereas expressions of anti-Semitism in government owned or controlled media
appear in articles, cartoons, shows, even television shows for children,
and other media;
Whereas typical examples of anti-Semitic expressions in government owned or
controlled media, include--
(1) portraying stereotypical images of Jews and Jewish symbols, such as
allegations that Jews control the world or depictions of Jews as thieves;
(2) accepting as fact The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion or
the Blood Libels;
(3) depicting demonic images of Jews or Israeli leaders;
(4) denying the Holocaust;
(5) alleging that the September 11, 2001, attacks against the United
States ``were carried out by Jews''; and
(6) comparisons of Israeli leaders and Israel to Hitler and the Nazis;
Whereas some governments fail to respond adequately to anti-Semitic incidents
including attacks on Jewish citizens, monuments, building, and
cemeteries; and
Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council, and its predecessor the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights, has singled out Israel through
resolutions and special sessions criticizing the Jewish State, while
paying little attention to actual notorious human rights violators,
including Belarus, Burma, Cuba, North Korea, and Sudan: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
(1) expresses its commitment to continue to make it a
priority to fight anti-Semitism and to promote tolerance at
home and abroad;
(2) urges all governments to take all steps necessary to
eradicate anti-Semitism and to promote religious tolerance;
(3) condemns any and all official and unofficial
sanctioning of anti-Semitic activity by any government;
(4) condemns the continuing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic
activities and rhetoric at the United Nations;
(5) expresses that, it shall be the policy of the United
States, when evaluating its relationship with any foreign
government, including when determining United States foreign
assistance to be provided, to take into account whether a
foreign government actively or passively foments anti-Semitism
by, among other things--
(A) using media that is government-owned or subject
to government control;
(B) seeking to control religious thought and
expression;
(C) failing to discourage anti-Semitism or
incitement to anti-Semitism;
(D) discriminating against religious groups;
(E) establishing policies that aim to discriminate
against religious groups or fail adequately to protect
religious groups from harassment, discrimination, and
attacks; and
(F) fomenting anti-Semitism or other religious
intolerance among its youth, including in its schools;
(6) expresses that it shall be the policy of the United
States Government when conducting its annual review of the
status of religious freedom worldwide and determining which
countries should be designated as ``Countries of Particular
Concern'', to pay special attention to government sponsorship,
fomenting or endorsement of anti-Semitic activities as well as
any government's failure to take adequate steps to halt anti-
Semitic activities;
(7) calls on the President to direct the United States
Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the
voice, vote, and influence of the United States to prevent the
use of the United Nations regular budget to support the planned
2009 Durban Review Conference;
(8) calls on the Secretary-General of the United Nations
to--
(A) officially and publicly condemn any anti-
Semitic statements made at United Nations meetings;
(B) establish and enforce policies to hold
accountable any United Nations official or employee who
makes such statements; and
(C) further develop and implement education
awareness programs about historic and contemporary
anti-Semitism, including the Holocaust, as part of an
effort to combat the global rise in anti-Semitism; and
(9) calls on the Secretary of State to secure adoption of a
United Nations General Assembly resolution implementing
procedures at the United Nations to hold accountable member
states that make anti-Semitic or incendiary statements and
engage in anti-Semitic or incendiary activities, including by
suspending the membership privileges of such member states.
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