[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2292 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.2292
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four
An Act
To require a report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of
2004''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Acts of anti-Semitism in countries throughout the world,
including some of the world's strongest democracies, have increased
significantly in frequency and scope over the last several years.
(2) During the last 3 months of 2003 and the first 3 months of
2004, there were numerous instances of anti-Semitic violence around
the world, including the following incidents:
(A) In Putrajaya, Malaysia, on October 16, 2003, former
Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad told the 57 national leaders
assembled for the Organization of the Islamic Conference that
Jews ``rule the world by proxy'', and called for a ``final
victory'' by the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, who, he said,
``cannot be defeated by a few million Jews.''.
(B) In Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003, simultaneous
car bombs exploded outside two synagogues filled with
worshippers, killing 24 people and wounding more than 250
people.
(C) In Australia on January 5, 2004, poison was used to
ignite, and burn anti-Semitic slogans into, the lawns of the
Parliament House in the state of Tasmania.
(D) In St. Petersburg, Russia, on February 15, 2004,
vandals desecrated approximately 50 gravestones in a Jewish
cemetery, painting the stones with swastikas and anti-Semitic
graffiti.
(E) In Toronto, Canada, over the weekend of March 19
through March 21, 2004, vandals attacked a Jewish school, a
Jewish cemetery, and area synagogues, painting swastikas and
anti-Semitic slogans on the walls of a synagogue and on
residential property in a nearby, predominantly Jewish,
neighborhood.
(F) In Toulon, France, on March 23, 2004, a Jewish
synagogue and community center were set on fire.
(3) Anti-Semitism in old and new forms is also increasingly
emanating from the Arab and Muslim world on a sustained basis,
including through books published by government-owned publishing
houses in Egypt and other Arab countries.
(4) In November 2002, state-run television in Egypt broadcast
the anti-Semitic series entitled ``Horseman Without a Horse'',
which is based upon the fictitious conspiracy theory known as the
Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The Protocols have been used
throughout the last century by despots such as Adolf Hitler to
justify violence against Jews.
(5) In November 2003, Arab television featured an anti-Semitic
series, entitled ``Ash-Shatat'' (or ``The Diaspora''), which
depicts Jewish people hatching a plot for Jewish control of the
world.
(6) The sharp rise in anti-Semitic violence has caused
international organizations such as the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to elevate, and bring renewed
focus to, the issue, including the convening by the OSCE in June
2003 of a conference in Vienna dedicated solely to the issue of
anti-Semitism.
(7) The OSCE convened a conference again on April 28-29, 2004,
in Berlin, to address the problem of anti-Semitism with the United
States delegation led by former Mayor of New York City, Ed Koch.
(8) The United States Government has strongly supported efforts
to address anti-Semitism through bilateral relationships and
interaction with international organizations such as the OSCE, the
European Union, and the United Nations.
(9) Congress has consistently supported efforts to address the
rise in anti-Semitic violence. During the 107th Congress, both the
Senate and the House of Representatives passed resolutions
expressing strong concern with the sharp escalation of anti-Semitic
violence in Europe and calling on the Department of State to
thoroughly document the phenomenon.
(10) Anti-Semitism has at times taken the form of vilification
of Zionism, the Jewish national movement, and incitement against
Israel.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States Government should continue to strongly
support efforts to combat anti-Semitism worldwide through bilateral
relationships and interaction with international organizations such
as the OSCE, the European Union, and the United Nations; and
(2) the Department of State should thoroughly document acts of
anti-Semitism that occur around the world.
SEC. 4. REPORTS.
Not later than November 15, 2004, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives a
one-time report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world, including a
description of--
(1) acts of physical violence against, or harassment
of, Jewish people, and acts of violence against, or vandalism of,
Jewish community institutions, such as schools, synagogues, or
cemeteries, that occurred in each country;
(2) the responses of the governments of those countries to such
actions;
(3) the actions taken by such governments to enact and enforce
laws relating to the protection of the right to religious freedom
of Jewish people;
(4) the efforts by such governments to promote anti-bias and
tolerance education; and
(5) instances of propaganda in government and nongovernment
media that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred or incite
acts of violence against Jewish people.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT
ANTI-SEMITISM.
The State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 is amended by
adding after section 58 (22 U.S.C. 2730) the following new section:
``SEC. 59. MONITORING AND COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM.
``(a) Office To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.--
``(1) Establishment of office.--The Secretary shall establish
within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and Combat
anti-Semitism (in this section referred to as the `Office').
``(2) Head of office.--
``(A) Special envoy for monitoring and combating anti-
semitism.--The head of the Office shall be the Special Envoy
for Monitoring and Combating anti-Semitism (in this section
referred to as the `Special Envoy').
``(B) Appointment of head of office.--The Secretary shall
appoint the Special Envoy. If the Secretary determines that
such is appropriate, the Secretary may appoint the Special
Envoy from among officers and employees of the Department. The
Secretary may allow such officer or employee to retain the
position (and the responsibilities associated with such
position) held by such officer or employee prior to the
appointment of such officer or employee to the position of
Special Envoy under this paragraph.
``(b) Purpose of Office.--Upon establishment, the Office shall
assume the primary responsibility for--
``(1) monitoring and combating acts of anti-Semitism and anti-
Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries;
``(2) coordinating and assisting in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by sections 116(d)(7) and 502B(b) of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)(7) and
2304(b)) relating to an assessment and description of the nature
and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement for
inclusion in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices;
and
``(3) coordinating and assisting in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by section 102(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6412(b)(1)(A)(iv)) relating to an assessment and description of the
nature and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic
incitement for inclusion in the Annual Report on International
Religious Freedom.
``(c) Consultations.--The Special Envoy shall consult with domestic
and international nongovernmental organizations and multilateral
organizations and institutions, as the Special Envoy considers
appropriate to fulfill the purposes of this section.''.
SEC. 6. INCLUSION IN DEPARTMENT OF STATE ANNUAL REPORTS OF INFORMATION
CONCERNING ACTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
(a) Inclusion in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.--The
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 116(d) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d))--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8), (9), and (10), as
paragraphs (9), (10), and (11), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new
paragraph:
``(8) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and
extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that
occur during the preceding year, including descriptions of--
``(A) acts of physical violence against, or harassment of
Jewish people, and acts of violence against, or vandalism of
Jewish community institutions, including schools, synagogues,
and cemeteries;
``(B) instances of propaganda in government and
nongovernment media that attempt to justify or promote racial
hatred or incite acts of violence against Jewish people;
``(C) the actions, if any, taken by the government of the
country to respond to such violence and attacks or to eliminate
such propaganda or incitement;
``(D) the actions taken by such government to enact and
enforce laws relating to the protection of the right to
religious freedom of Jewish people; and
``(E) the efforts of such government to promote anti-bias
and tolerance education;''; and
(2) after the fourth sentence of section 502B(b) (22 U.S.C.
2304(b)), by inserting the following new sentence: ``Wherever
applicable, a description of the nature and extent of acts of anti-
Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur, including the
descriptions of such acts required under section 116(d)(8).''.
(b) Inclusion in Annual Report on International Religious
Freedom.--Section 102(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding after clause (iii) the following new clause:
``(iv) wherever applicable, an assessment and
description of the nature and extent of acts of anti-
Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in that
country during the preceding year, including--
``(I) acts of physical violence against, or
harassment of, Jewish people, acts of violence against,
or vandalism of, Jewish community institutions, and
instances of propaganda in government and nongovernment
media that incite such acts; and
``(II) the actions taken by the government of that
country to respond to such violence and attacks or to
eliminate such propaganda or incitement, to enact and
enforce laws relating to the protection of the right to
religious freedom of Jewish people, and to promote
anti-bias and tolerance education.''.
(c) Effective Date of Inclusions.--The amendments made by
subsections (a) and (b) shall apply beginning with the first report
under sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)) and section 102(b) of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6312(b))
submitted more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.