USA - Members of Congress encourage EU commission president to increase vigilance on antisemitism

Congressmen Joe Crowley

A prominent group of members of the U.S. Congress, led by Congressmen Joe Crowley (D-NY), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) called on the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso to bolster efforts to prevent antisemitism in Europe. The letter was signed by twenty three members of Congress, who sent it in response to the significant increases in antisemitic acts that took place in Europe in 2009. Last month, CFCA released data highlighting a spike in antisemitic acts that occurred in Europe during the 2009 Israeli Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. The CFCA pointed out that the number of antisemitic acts that took place in 2009 was the highest since World War II.

Concerned with the rise in antisemitism in 2009, the members of Congress said in their letter, "We realize that many European countries have taken... steps to combat tides of antisemitism, but the CFCA findings underscore the need to redouble these efforts. We would like to work with you, wherever possible, to increase our efforts, by sharing best-practices and collaborating on our efforts."

Added the members of Congress, "We urge you to publicly condemn the increased acts of antisemitism, which, if left unchecked, could further escalate in number and intensity. Additionally, we urge the European Commission, as well as the member states of the European Union, to expand efforts to prevent antisemitic attacks."

Source: http://crowley.house.gov/

FULL TEXT OF LETTER

Excellency José Manuel Barroso
President, European Commission
Brussels, Belgium

Dear President José Manuel Barroso:

We wanted to bring to your attention recent data compiled by the Jewish Agency, which found that there were more documented incidents of antisemitism in Europe in 2009 than at any time since World War II. In fact, a greater number of incidents occurred during the first three months of 2009 than in all of 2008, including the burning of synagogues and the defacing of cemeteries and Holocaust memorials. These alarming statistics cannot be ignored and require the immediate attention of the European Commission.

The U.S. House of Representatives has been deeply involved in combating antisemitism throughout the world, passing a resolution as early as 2002 which states that “although the continued violence in the Middle East is disturbing and must be resolved, exploiting that violence to fuel hostility or violence against Jews and Jewish institutions is reprehensible.” We realize that many European countries have taken similar steps to combat tides of antisemitism, but the Jewish Agency’s findings underscore the need to redouble these efforts. We would like to work with you, wherever possible, to increase our efforts, by sharing best-practices and collaborating on our efforts.

As you know, EU states were present at the OSCE Berlin Conference on Antisemitism in 2004 and adopted the following April 2004 Permanent Council Decision No. 607 on Combating Antisemitism, which condemned without reservation all manifestations of antisemitism and that international or political developments in Israel or elsewhere in the Middle East never justify antisemitism. Indeed, modern-day Europe was formed on the basis of religious freedom and equal rights for all. When these rights are trampled upon, governments must step in and act in order to protect their citizens. For this reason, we urge you to publicly condemn the increased acts of antisemitism, which, if left unchecked, could further escalate in number and intensity. Additionally, we urge the European Commission, as well as the member states of the European Union, to expand efforts to prevent antisemitic attacks.

Ultimately, any attack on any minority group represents an attack on all who believe in human rights, and efforts to defend victims of such attacks are efforts to defend us all. We know you agree with this sentiment and we look forward to working with you to address this issue.

Sincerely,

Joseph Crowley
Alcee L. Hastings
Christopher H. Smith
Anthony D. Weiner
Michael E. McMahon
Dan Burton
Jared Polis
Al Green
Ron Klein
Heath Shuler
Mike Quigley
Maurice Hinchey
Doug Lamborn
Donald A. Manzullo
Jerrold Nadler
Frank R. Wolf
Laura Richardson
Shelley Berkley
Elijah E. Cummings
Keith Ellison
Mary Jo Kilroy
Gus R. Bilirakis
Debbie Wasserman Schultz

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