H. Res. 393

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—
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(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,
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(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 antiSemitic expressions and should prosecute and punish

perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence; and
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(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.