[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 13433-13435]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             ANTI-SEMITISM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McAllister). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 3, 2013, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Meng) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.


                             General Leave

  Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, we gather this evening to discuss anti-
Semitism. It is a plague that has ravaged the world for thousands of 
years, yet in the last few weeks, it has reared its ugly head globally 
in a way we have not seen in a long time.
  It is truly shocking. From Berlin to New York, we are hearing chants 
of ``Gas the Jews.'' And this is not hyperbole. We are actually hearing 
chants of ``Gas the Jews'' around the world.
  And these are not isolated incidents. We are seeing hundreds and 
thousands of people rallying and sometimes attacking synagogues in 
Europe. It is one thing to protest against events going on in the 
Middle East, but there is simply no justification and no reason for 
doing it right outside any Jewish place of worship. These are brazen 
acts of anti-Semitism.
  Now, I cannot possibly understand anti-Semitism to the same extent as 
my Jewish friends. But I think it is crucial that non-Jews speak out 
forcefully against this disease because to effectively combat anti-
Semitism, we need non-Jews to step up and also lead on this issue.
  I would like to focus my remarks today on two related issues, the 
international and domestic dimensions of anti-Semitism.
  With regard to anti-Semitism beyond our borders, I would like to 
focus on one case, that of France. I am focusing on France because I 
think it is really the front line right now in the war against global 
anti-Semitism, and I think it is an instructive case for how policy 
leaders here can face this issue.

[[Page 13434]]

  In France right now, there is a war. On the one hand, we see some of 
the most widespread and atrocious acts of anti-Semitism, but on the 
other hand, we see a government--most particularly, Prime Minister 
Valls--acting forcefully against anti-Semitism. The words and actions 
of the French Government, most particularly Mr. Valls' recent 
assertions that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, are unprecedented and 
should be acknowledged as such.
  So what we have here are two sides: virulent anti-Semites on one 
side, and on the other, a democratically elected government that 
appears resolved to take them on. Rather than throw our hands in the 
air and say that France is a horribly anti-Semitic place and that all 
the Jews should leave, we ought to get in this fight.
  Anti-Semitism is a complicated issue, not a black-and-white issue. 
Yes, France has a deep history of anti-Semitism, but it is also a 
country that has had a Jewish President and one that nearly elected 
another a couple of years ago. It has the third-largest Jewish 
population in the world, and there is a reason for that. It is also a 
country that historically has proven itself capable of changing. We 
need to recognize this history and work with France's leadership and 
civil society to fight this battle and remain hopeful. What happens 
here will, I believe, affect the future of the Jewish people.
  This brings me to the domestic dimension of our problem. We obviously 
have anti-Semitism in this country as well, although not to the degree 
we see it in Europe. It is essential that Jews and non-Jews speak about 
this problem to their own communities, and we have to continue to 
encourage that here in Congress.
  In New York, Mr. Jeffries and I are leading a program whereby Jewish, 
Asian, and African American college students are gathering to discuss 
foreign policies and the perspectives of the respective communities in 
relation to key foreign policy issues.
  We must speak regularly about Israel, BDS, and other issues of 
importance to our Jewish friends and neighbors, not just when there is 
a major international incident. The reason I say this is because it is 
also far easier to hate someone you don't know than to hate someone 
that you do know.
  Mr. Speaker, as we head into the August recess, I urge my colleagues 
of all stripes to discuss the dangers of anti-Semitism with their 
communities and to build bridges between communities so that we may 
reduce hatred and bigotry.
  I also urge my colleagues as statesmen and -women to engage the 
international community in a positive way on this issue and believe in 
and fight for a Europe and world of lesser anti-Semitism.
  With that, I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from Florida, Ms. 
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the first Jewish woman from Florida elected 
to Congress, a tireless advocate and one of the great Jewish leaders of 
our time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I thank the gentlewoman from New York, 
particularly for her leadership in stepping up and bringing to the 
floor of the United States House of Representatives the incredibly 
important topic of anti-Semitism, not just nationally but globally, 
because much of the conflict that exists worldwide today, 
unfortunately, stems from poisonous anti-Semitism.
  The gentlewoman from New York represents the district that my parents 
grew up in and neighborhoods and communities with a proud Jewish 
immigrant tradition. And she also represents the Asian American 
community that has come and joined that crowd and vibrant ethnic 
community of immigrants who have contributed so much to the United 
States' rich tapestry of diversity. And it is diversity that we 
celebrate. But, unfortunately, it is not a difference that everyone 
celebrates, as we have seen with the precipitous and poisonous rise in 
anti-Semitism.
  So from the bottom of my heart, as a Jew, and as the representative 
of a significant Jewish population myself, thank you so much for your 
leadership and bringing this important issue to the floor of the House 
of Representatives, because it is only through shining a light on anti-
Semitism that we are going to be able to help educate people and fight 
back.
  And I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to condemn the alarming increase of 
anti-Semitism that we have witnessed over the last few weeks. The Anti-
Defamation League released a terrifying report just last month about 
anti-Semitism growing throughout the world.
  Tragically, my own constituents have personally experienced 
terrifying and heinous crimes against them just this past week. On 
Monday morning, congregants and neighbors were horrified to find that 
swastikas had been spray painted on the walls of Torah V'Emunah 
synagogue in Miami-Dade County. In Miami Beach over the weekend, a 
Jewish couple found their car had been egged and the words ``Hamas'' 
and ``Jew'' had been smeared on their cars.
  These deplorable acts are atrocious and despicable. For all of us who 
care about the rights of minority populations in this country, who 
celebrate the rich diversity that makes up our great Nation, we cannot 
and we must not be silent.
  It is amazing to many of us that these actions are occurring in 2014, 
not in 1930s Nazi Germany. But, unfortunately, we are also witnessing 
what Anti-Defamation League director and holocaust survivor Abe Foxman 
recently called the worst anti-Semitism since World War II.
  As the gentlewoman from New York detailed, in France, in an episode 
that is chillingly reminiscent of Kristallnacht, we witnessed angry 
rioters throw firebombs at synagogues and ransack and destroy Jewish-
owned businesses. In Belgium, a cafe actually publicly displayed a sign 
saying dogs were allowed in the cafe, but Jews were not.
  Thankfully, we have seen the leaders of European countries, including 
Germany, France, and Italy, condemn this kind of behavior. There are 
countless voices across Europe speaking up in the face of this 
barbarism.
  But this anti-Semitism is real. This hatred is real, and the violence 
is real.
  Many not close to this issue may ask why. To us, it is very clear. 
This recent surge of anti-Semitism is born out of knee-jerk vitriolic 
reaction to the conflict raging in Israel and Gaza. But this conflation 
of anti-Semitism with the recent actions of Israel in defense of her 
people is completely misplaced. Israel's actions are a direct response 
against rocket attacks from a terrorist organization whose stated 
mission is Israel's destruction and that thrives on a continuing 
narrative of anti-Semitism and hatred.
  Unfortunately, we only see a few lone voices around the world 
protesting against a Hamas government that knowingly and willingly puts 
its citizens, its children, in harm's way, placing them in jeopardy and 
sacrificing their lives to engender sympathy for their evil cause.
  We hear little from much of the world against a terrorist 
organization that chose to invest in rockets and building tunnels for 
plotting murderous attacks against innocent civilians instead of 
investing in homes and schools and hospitals for its citizens.
  Instead of condemning these cowardly practices by Hamas, we have, 
however, seen people rage equally against Israel, Israelis, and Jews 
anywhere. The words and phrases that these protesters are using cannot 
be spoken on this House floor. They have been dug up from the worst 
episodes of human history.
  That is why I am proud to stand with my colleagues tonight, to stand 
with President Obama and Secretary Kerry, and send a clear message that 
these actions will not be tolerated. We must stand by the commitments 
we made as a community and as a world to never again stand silent in 
the face of this kind of horror, this kind of bigotry, this kind of 
injustice.
  We will not stand idly by as vitriolic speech turns into violence 
against innocent people. Never again.
  Ms. MENG. With that, I would like to yield to my friend from Florida 
(Mr. Deutch), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and North Africa, a mentor on many of

[[Page 13435]]

those issues, a good friend, fellow Wolverine, tireless fighter, and 
defender of Israel.
  Mr. DEUTCH. I thank my friend from New York (Ms. Meng). I appreciate 
very much your dedicating this hour to this important topic. I 
appreciate your leadership. I am proud to be here with you. I am proud 
to be here with my friend and my neighbor from Florida (Ms. Wasserman 
Schultz), a powerful and eloquent spokeswoman on these issues that 
means so much not just to the Jewish community but to all of America.
  And I am glad to be here with you to condemn the increase of anti-
Semitism around the world.
  Anti-Semitism isn't a new issue faced by Jews. For centuries, Jews 
have been targeted, persecuted, sometimes by their governments, 
sometimes by their neighbors, used as scapegoats for economic downturns 
and disasters, and commonly accused of being disloyal to their home 
country.
  But this hatred, unfortunately, is far from gone. It continues in a 
range of manifestations, from Holocaust denial to suspicion of Jewish 
influence over international affairs and, tragically, even in the 
shooting of innocent Jews.
  In recent days, we have seen a new face on this age-old bigotry. We 
are seeing demonstrations around the world that claim to be protesting 
Israel's actions against Hamas but too easily and far too often, 
political opposition to Israel's policies and actual hatred toward Jews 
are conflated and are indistinguishable.

                              {time}  1915

  It is clear, unfortunately, that many people are using the current 
conflict, a facade of anti-Zionism, or anti-Israel sentiment, as a thin 
veil to cover up a much more deep-seated hatred toward Jews.
  Let me be clear. It moves far beyond a political statement when your 
intention is to incite--incite violence and to incite violence against 
Jewish targets especially.
  Since the military operation began on July 8, over 100 anti-Semitic 
incidents have been reported in the United Kingdom alone. On July 18, 
four teenagers assaulted a rabbi in Gateshead, and separately, in 
Belfast, a synagogue was damaged when bricks were thrown through the 
windows.
  France has also experienced a significant number of incidents across 
the country. In Sarcelles, a kosher store was the target of a Molotov 
cocktail, and last month, two Jews were sprayed with teargas.
  In Paris, two synagogues were attacked on July 13 while the mob 
chanted ``death to the Jews.'' In Toulouse, Molotov cocktails were 
thrown at a Jewish community center, but thankfully, the attacker 
missed the target. Particularly in Toulouse, these incidents evoke 
memories of the awful shooting that happened 2 years ago when three 
Jewish children and a teacher were shot and killed at a Jewish day 
school.
  In Germany, long touted--appropriately so--for its extensive 
protective policies against anti-Semitism, Jews are witnessing anti-
Semitic slogans and chants that now seem so out of date and out of 
place.
  Only a few days ago, a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke was assaulted on 
the streets in Berlin and hit in the face. In Essen, a group of anti-
Israel protesters, reportedly on their way to attack a synagogue, were 
arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime--and the statements, the 
screaming, in Frankfurt, ``You Jews are beasts;'' in Paris, ``Death to 
the Jews;'' Gelsenkirchen, Germany, chants of ``Hamas, Hamas, Jews to 
the gas.''
  All over the world, not just statements, but the vitriol found on 
social media as well is not only abhorrent, it is chilling, but these 
incidents, as my colleagues have described, are not taking place only 
abroad.
  Just this past weekend, as my friend from Florida related, a 
synagogue in her district was vandalized with the words ``Hamas'' and 
swastikas spray-painted on the front column. Nearby, a Jewish family 
woke up to find one of their cars completely covered in eggs, and on 
another car was written ``Jew'' and ``Hamas.''
  Yesterday, outside my own office in Boca Raton, Florida, during a 
rally, a few angry individuals screamed, ``Throw the Jews into the 
sea.''
  A former employee of mine recently posted a story of an occurrence 
that happened to him last weekend. He said:

       Today, I was walking home alone from synagogue, minding my 
     own business. When I got to the crosswalk, I waited for the 
     light to turn, so I could cross safely. While waiting, a car 
     pulled up in front of me where a young man rolled down the 
     window and yelled, ``Jew, Hitler was right,'' and then drove 
     off.
       I remind you this was not at a rally. I was wearing a 
     yarmulke and was walking from synagogue, and I was enjoying 
     Shabbat.

  There are many more examples domestically, including a Jewish summer 
camp in California where graffiti was found that read, ``Jews equal 
killers,'' and ``Jews are children killers.'' It is unacceptable that 
radical groups have used the conflict between Israel and Hamas as 
pretext for their own anti-Semitism.
  Last month, I proudly joined my colleagues in a letter to Secretary 
Kerry, urging the State Department's continued focus on combating anti-
Semitism worldwide. I applaud the statements of condemnation by 
European leaders, including those in France, in Germany, and Italy, and 
their stated commitment to ensuring the safety of their own communities 
is to be admired, but there is more that needs to be done to rid 
societies of this baseless hatred toward Jews.
  A number of Jewish leaders in the U.S., Europe, and Israel have 
expressed serious concern about the rise in the number of incidents in 
hate speech and violence, and many believe that this animosity has 
risen to the worst level seen since the Holocaust.
  We must continue to speak out on these issues, which is why I am so 
grateful to have this opportunity tonight. We have to use this 
opportunity to educate and to combat anti-Semitism in all of its forms.
  When we combat anti-Semitism, we stand not just against hatred for 
the Jews, we stand against hatred, and it affects not just the Jews, 
but when we stand against anti-Semitism and we speak out against 
hatred, ultimately, every minority group that is the target of hatred--
every one of those groups benefits from our willingness to speak out.
  I am glad to have that opportunity to do that here on the floor 
tonight, and, with that, I, again, would like to thank my friend, Ms. 
Meng, for bringing us together today.
  Ms. MENG. In conclusion, we stand today united as a Congress to 
condemn acts of anti-Semitism through the world and right here in our 
communities. Hate is never the answer. We must always speak up.
  I would like to end by reciting a well-known poem by Martin 
Niemoller:

       First, they came for the socialists--and I did not speak 
     out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the 
     trade unionists--and I did not speak out because I was not a 
     trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews--and I did not 
     speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me--and 
     there was no one left to speak for me.

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________