A resolution condemning the rise in anti-Semitism incidents globally since terrorists in the Gaza Strip triggered several days of violence against Israel on May 10, 2021.

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 250 Condemning the rise in anti-Semitism incidents globally since terrorists in the Gaza Strip triggered several days of violence against Israel on May 10, 2021. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 27, 2021 Mr. RISCH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Condemning the rise in anti-Semitism incidents globally since terrorists in the Gaza Strip triggered several days of violence against Israel on May 10, 2021. Whereas there has been a concerning rise in the number of verbal, physical, and online attacks against Jewish com- munities since violence broke out between Israel and ter- rorists in the Gaza Strip on May 10, 2021; Whereas, in a recent statement, Anti-Defamation League President, Jonathan A. Greenblatt, remarked, ‘‘as vio- lence between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, we are witnessing a dangerous and drastic surge in anti- Jewish hate. We are tracking acts of harassment, van- dalism, and violence as well as a torrent of online abuses.’’; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:13 May 29, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR250.IS SR250 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 250 IS Whereas anti-Semitic incidents have been reported against Jewish communities around the world, including in Eu- rope, the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, and North America; Whereas a particularly high rate of anti-Semitic attacks have been reported in Europe since violence broke out between Israel and the designated foreign terrorist organization Hamas, with synagogues, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and Jewish community centers being vandalized in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain; Whereas a similar rise in global, anti-Jewish crimes took place during the 2014 Gaza War, when Hamas fired some 4,500 rockets at Israel over the span of 50 days, endangering the lives of countless civilians; Whereas, in response to an ‘‘unprecedented’’ rise in anti-Se- mitic crimes in the United Kingdom, like the assault against Rabbi Rafi Goodwin in North London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson rightly reaffirmed his support for the United Kingdom’s Jewish community; Whereas pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Canada have com- pared Israel with the Nazis, used anti-Semitic slurs, vio- lently targeted pro-Israel demonstrators with rocks, and displayed posters calling for ‘‘Death to Israel’’, and protestors in Spain displayed desecrated Israeli flags with swastikas imposed onto the Star of David; Whereas, at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the Nether- lands, attendants reportedly referred to Prime Minister Mark Rutte as ‘‘cancer Jew’’ and shouted ‘‘Heil Hitler’’; Whereas, since violence broke out between Israel and mili- tants in the Gaza Strip earlier this month, numerous Jewish community centers, nongovernmental organiza- VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:52 May 28, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR250.IS SR250 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 250 IS tions, and synagogues have come under attack in Ger- many, and in some cases received threats regarding the intent to commit physical harm; Whereas, in Argentina, a Jewish community building was vandalized with graffiti saying ‘‘we are going to kill you’’, and ‘‘Jewish rats’’, and swastika crosses were imposed onto sidewalks; Whereas the rise of anti-Israel groups and voices in the United States has contributed to increased anti-Semitism in, and outside, the United States; Whereas this rhetoric has fueled support for the Boycott, Di- vestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement which rep- resents a financial, political, and economic manifestation of anti-Semitism against Israel; and Whereas the people and Government of the United States stand strongly with our Israeli allies and reaffirm Israel’s right to self-defense against threats emanating from United States-designated foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) condemns expressions of anti-Semitism 2 being reported around the world, including those 3 taking place in the United States; 4 (2) rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms, and 5 reaffirms its commitment to understanding, toler- 6 ance, and equality; 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:52 May 28, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR250.IS SR250 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 250 IS (3) stands by Jewish communities around the 1 world as they face unacceptable levels of risk based 2 on extremist views; 3 (4) reaffirms our strong support for our Israeli 4 allies, who faced numerous attacks from Iran-backed 5 militants in the Gaza Strip; 6 (5) calls on the President to urgently appoint a 7 Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism 8 at the Department of State to help coordinate 9 United States policy regarding anti-Semitic crimes 10 around the world; and 11 (6) condemns the BDS movement for contrib- 12 uting to the rise of anti-Semitism. 13 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:52 May 28, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR250.IS SR250 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with BILLS