[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 393 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                          July 9, 2002.
Whereas there can be no justification for violence or intolerance against 
        minorities;
Whereas the 1993 Helsinki Declaration expressed the commitment of its 
        signatories, including all European member states, to the promotion of 
        tolerance toward minorities;
Whereas there has been a significant rise in anti-Semitic verbal incitement and 
        physical attacks on Jewish people and Jewish institutions throughout 
        Europe during the last 18 months with as many as 400 incidents reported 
        in France;
Whereas anti-Semitism is defined as hostility towards Jews;
Whereas certain groups in Europe have exploited the situation in the Middle East 
        as an excuse to carry out violent acts against Jews;
Whereas, 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;
Whereas, according to news reports, the following anti-Semitic attacks are among 
        those which have taken place in Europe in recent weeks--
            (1) on March 3, Molotov cocktails were thrown at a synagogue in 
        Antwerp, Belgium,
            (2) on March 16, an explosive device was thrown into a Jewish 
        cemetery in Berlin, Germany,
            (3) on March 30, two vehicles were smashed at La Duchere synagogue 
        in Lyon, France, and a kosher butcher shop was strafed by gunfire in 
        Toulouse, France,
            (4) on April 1, a Jewish school was attacked in Sarcelles, France, a 
        firebomb was thrown at the Anderlecht synagogue in Brussels, Belgium, 
        the Or Aviv synagogue (including its Torah scrolls) in Marseille, 
        France, was destroyed by fire, and two Yeshiva students from New Jersey 
        were brutally beaten in Berlin, Germany,
            (5) on April 4, vehicles belonging to a Jewish school were burned in 
        Aubervilliers, France, and a synagogue in Montpellier, France, was 
        firebombed,
            (6) on April 6, a Jewish sports association storefront was 
        firebombed in Toulouse, France,
            (7) on April 11, in Bondy, France, a Jewish soccer team was attacked 
        with sticks and metal bars after the attackers shouted anti-Semitic 
        remarks,
            (8) on April 12, a Jewish cemetery was desecrated in Strasbourg, 
        France,
            (9) on April 13, synagogue worshipers were attacked in Kiev, 
        Ukraine, and
            (10) on May 1, in the Finsbury Park synagogue in London, England, 
        vandals defaced prayer books and painted swastikas throughout the 
        sanctuary;
Whereas anti-Semitic attacks are not confined to a single European nation;
Whereas President Bush, speaking for the American people, has rejected ``the 
        ancient evil of anti-Semitism'' making specific reference to anti-
        Semitism in Europe; and
Whereas Europe, in view of its history, should be particularly sensitive to the 
        scourge of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic violence: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) the governments of Europe should continue to take necessary 
        steps to provide security and to protect the safety and well-being of 
        their Jewish communities;
            (2) the governments of Europe should deplore anti-Semitic 
        expressions and should prosecute and punish perpetrators of anti-Semitic 
        violence; and
            (3) the governments of Europe should continue to make a concerted 
        effort to cultivate an atmosphere in which all forms of anti-Semitism 
        are rejected.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.