IA 

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 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
2 

•HJ 84 IH 

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 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
3 

•HJ 84 IH 

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 antiSemitism 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; 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
4 

•HJ 84 IH 

(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 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That Congress— 

4 (1) expresses its commitment to continue to 

5 make it a priority to fight anti-Semitism and to pro6 mote tolerance at home and abroad; 

7 (2) urges all governments to take all steps nec8 essary to eradicate anti-Semitism and to promote re9 ligious tolerance; 

10 (3) condemns any and all official and unofficial 

11 sanctioning of anti-Semitic activity by any govern12 ment; 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
5 

•HJ 84 IH 

1 (4) condemns the continuing anti-Israel and 

2 anti-Semitic activities and rhetoric at the United 

3 Nations; 

4 (5) expresses that, it shall be the policy of the 

5 United States, when evaluating its relationship with 

6 any foreign government, including when determining 

7 United States foreign assistance to be provided, to 

8 take into account whether a foreign government ac9 tively or passively foments anti-Semitism by, among 

10 other things— 

11 (A) using media that is government-owned 

12 or subject to government control; 

13 (B) seeking to control religious thought 

14 and expression; 

15 (C) failing to discourage anti-Semitism or 

16 incitement to anti-Semitism; 

17 (D) discriminating against religious 

18 groups; 

19 (E) establishing policies that aim to dis20 criminate against religious groups or fail ade21 quately to protect religious groups from harass22 ment, discrimination, and attacks; and 

23 (F) fomenting anti-Semitism or other reli24 gious intolerance among its youth, including in 

25 its schools; 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
6 

•HJ 84 IH 

1 (6) expresses that it shall be the policy of the 

2 United States Government when conducting its an3 nual review of the status of religious freedom world4 wide and determining which countries should be des5 ignated as ‘‘Countries of Particular Concern’’, to 

6 pay special attention to government sponsorship, fo7 menting or endorsement of anti-Semitic activities as 

8 well as any government’s failure to take adequate 

9 steps to halt anti-Semitic activities; 

10 (7) calls on the President to direct the United 

11 States Permanent Representative to the United Na12 tions to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 

13 United States to prevent the use of the United Na14 tions regular budget to support the planned 2009 

15 Durban Review Conference; 

16 (8) calls on the Secretary-General of the United 

17 Nations to— 

18 (A) officially and publicly condemn any 

19 anti-Semitic statements made at United Na20 tions meetings; 

21 (B) establish and enforce policies to hold 

22 accountable any United Nations official or em23 ployee who makes such statements; and 

24 (C) further develop and implement edu25 cation awareness programs about historic and 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
7 

•HJ 84 IH 

1 contemporary anti-Semitism, including the Hol2 ocaust, as part of an effort to combat the global 

3 rise in anti-Semitism; and 

4 (9) calls on the Secretary of State to secure 

5 adoption of a United Nations General Assembly res6 olution implementing procedures at the United Na7 tions to hold accountable member states that make 

8 anti-Semitic or incendiary statements and engage in 

9 anti-Semitic or incendiary activities, including by 

10 suspending the membership privileges of such mem11 ber states. 

Æ 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS