H. Res. 393
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
July 9, 2002.
Whereas there can be no justification for violence or intoler-
ance against minorities;
Whereas the 1993 Helsinki Declaration expressed the com-
mitment of its signatories, including all European mem-
ber states, to the promotion of tolerance toward minori-
ties;
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 situa-
tion 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 vio-
lence to fuel hostility or violence against Jews and Jewish
institutions is reprehensible;
Whereas, according to news reports, the following anti-Se-
mitic 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, Ger-
many,
(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 store-
front 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 at-
tacked 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 Eu-
ropean 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 Represent-
atives 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 anti-
Semitic 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.