[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.
                                 <all>