An act to require continued and enhanced annual reporting to Congress in the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom on anti-Semitic incidents in Europe, the safety and security of European Jewish communities, and the efforts of the United States to partner with European governments, the European Union, and civil society groups, to combat anti-Semitism, and for other purposes
PL 115-434 (H.R.672), enacted 01/14/2019

132 STAT. 5526 
PUBLIC LAW 115–434—JAN. 14, 2019 
Public Law 115–434 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To require continued and enhanced annual reporting to Congress in the Annual 
Report on International Religious Freedom on anti-Semitic incidents in Europe, 
the safety and security of European Jewish communities, and the efforts of 
the United States to partner with European governments, the European Union, 
and civil society groups, to combat anti-Semitism, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combating European Anti-Semi-
tism Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) During the past decade, there has been a steady 
increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Europe, resulting in Euro-
pean Jews being the targets of physical and verbal harassment 
and even lethal terrorist attacks, all of which has eroded per-
sonal and communal security and the quality of daily Jewish 
life. 
(2) According to reporting by the European Union Agency 
for Fundamental Rights (FRA), between 2005 and 2014, anti- 
Semitic incidents increased in France from 508 to 851; in Ger-
many from 60 to 173; in Belgium from 58 to 130; in Italy 
from 49 to 86; and in the United Kingdom from 459 to 1,168. 
(3) Anti-Zionism has at times devolved into anti-Semitic 
attacks, prompting condemnation from many European leaders, 
including French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, British Prime 
Minister David Cameron, and German Chancellor Angela 
Merkel. 
(4) Since 2010, the Department of State has adhered to 
the working definition of Anti-Semitism by the European Moni-
toring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC). Some 
contemporary examples of anti-Semitism include the following: 
(A) Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or 
harming of Jews (often in the name of a radical ideology 
or an extremist view of religion). 
(B) Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, 
or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such, or the 
power of Jews as a collective, especially, but not exclusively, 
the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews 
controlling the media, economy, government, or other soci-
etal institutions. 
22 USC 6412 
note. 
Combating 
European 
Anti-Semitism 
Act of 2017. 
22 USC 6401 
note. 
Jan. 14, 2019 
[H.R. 672] 
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132 STAT. 5527 
PUBLIC LAW 115–434—JAN. 14, 2019 
(C) Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible 
for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single 
Jewish person or group, the State of Israel, or even for 
acts committed by non-Jews. 
(D) Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a 
state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. 
(E) Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to 
Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than 
to the interest of their own countries. 
(5) On October 16, 2004, the President signed into law 
the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004. This law provides 
the legal foundation for a reporting requirement provided by 
the Department of State annually on anti-Semitism around 
the world. 
(6) In November 2015, the House of Representatives passed 
H. Res. 354 by a vote of 418–0, urging the Secretary of State 
to continue robust United States reporting on anti-Semitism 
by the Department of State and the Special Envoy to Combat 
and Monitor Anti-Semitism. 
(7) In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alli-
ance (IHRA), comprised of 31 member countries, adopted a 
working definition of anti-Semitism which stated: ‘‘Anti-Semi-
tism 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.’’. 
(8) The IHRA further clarified that manifestations of anti- 
Semitism might also target the State of Israel, conceived of 
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. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) it is in the national interest of the United States to 
combat anti-Semitism at home and abroad; 
(2) anti-Semitism is a challenge to the basic principles 
of tolerance, pluralism, and democracy, and the shared values 
that bind Americans and Europeans together; 
(3) there is an urgent need to ensure the safety and security 
of European Jewish communities, including synagogues, 
schools, cemeteries, and other institutions; 
(4) the United States should continue to emphasize the 
importance of combating anti-Semitism in multilateral bodies, 
including the United Nations, European Union institutions, 
and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 
(5) the Department of State should continue to thoroughly 
document acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement 
that occur around the world, and should continue to encourage 
other countries to do the same, and share their findings; and 
(6) the Department of State should continue to work to 
encourage adoption by national government institutions and 
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132 STAT. 5528 
PUBLIC LAW 115–434—JAN. 14, 2019 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 672: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 163 (2017): May 17, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 164 (2018): Dec. 22, considered and passed Senate. 
multilateral institutions of a working definition of anti-Semi-
tism similar to the one adopted in the International Holocaust 
Remembrance Alliance context. 
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORTING ON THE STATE OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN 
EUROPE. 
Paragraph (1) of section 102(b) of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) ANTI-SEMITISM
IN
EUROPE.—In addition to the 
information required under clause (vii) of subparagraph 
(A), with respect to each European country in which verbal 
or physical threats or attacks are particularly significant 
against Jewish persons, places of worship, schools, ceme-
teries, and other religious institutions, a description of— 
‘‘(i) the security challenges and needs of European 
Jewish communities and European law enforcement 
agencies in such countries to better protect such 
communities; 
‘‘(ii) to the extent practicable, the efforts of the 
United States Government over the reporting period 
to partner with European law enforcement agencies 
and civil society groups regarding the sharing of 
information and best practices to combat anti-Semitic 
incidents in Europe; 
‘‘(iii) European educational programming and 
public awareness initiatives that aim to collaborate 
on educational curricula and campaigns that impart 
shared values of pluralism and tolerance, and showcase 
the positive contributions of Jews in culture, scholar-
ship, science, and art, with special attention to those 
segments of the population that exhibit a high degree 
of anti-Semitic animus; and 
‘‘(iv) efforts by European governments to adopt 
and apply a working definition of anti-Semitism.’’. 
Approved January 14, 2019. 
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