Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004
PL 108-332 (S.2292), enacted 10/16/2004

118 STAT. 1282
PUBLIC LAW 108–332—OCT. 16, 2004
Public Law 108–332
108th Congress
An Act
To require a report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world.
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 ‘‘Global Anti-Semitism Review
Act of 2004’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Acts of anti-Semitism in countries throughout the world,
including some of the world’s strongest democracies, have
increased significantly in frequency and scope over the last
several years.
(2) During the last 3 months of 2003 and the first 3
months of 2004, there were numerous instances of anti-Semitic
violence around the world, including the following incidents:
(A) In Putrajaya, Malaysia, on October 16, 2003, former
Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad told the 57 national
leaders assembled for the Organization of the Islamic Con-
ference that Jews ‘‘rule the world by proxy’’, and called
for a ‘‘final victory’’ by the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims,
who, he said, ‘‘cannot be defeated by a few million Jews.’’.
(B) In Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003,
simultaneous car bombs exploded outside two synagogues
filled with worshippers, killing 24 people and wounding
more than 250 people.
(C) In Australia on January 5, 2004, poison was used
to ignite, and burn anti-Semitic slogans into, the lawns
of the Parliament House in the state of Tasmania.
(D) In St. Petersburg, Russia, on February 15, 2004,
vandals desecrated approximately 50 gravestones in a
Jewish cemetery, painting the stones with swastikas and
anti-Semitic graffiti.
(E) In Toronto, Canada, over the weekend of March
19 through March 21, 2004, vandals attacked a Jewish
school, a Jewish cemetery, and area synagogues, painting
swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans on the walls of a syna-
gogue and on residential property in a nearby, predomi-
nantly Jewish, neighborhood.
(F) In Toulon, France, on March 23, 2004, a Jewish
synagogue and community center were set on fire.
(3) Anti-Semitism in old and new forms is also increasingly
emanating from the Arab and Muslim world on a sustained
Mahatir
Mohammad.
22 USC 2731
note.
Global Anti-
Semitism Review
Act of 2004.
22 USC 2651
note.
Oct. 16, 2004
[S. 2292]
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118 STAT. 1283
PUBLIC LAW 108–332—OCT. 16, 2004
basis, including through books published by government-owned
publishing houses in Egypt and other Arab countries.
(4) In November 2002, state-run television in Egypt broad-
cast the anti-Semitic series entitled ‘‘Horseman Without a
Horse’’, which is based upon the fictitious conspiracy theory
known as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The Protocols
have been used throughout the last century by despots such
as Adolf Hitler to justify violence against Jews.
(5) In November 2003, Arab television featured an anti-
Semitic series, entitled ‘‘Ash-Shatat’’ (or ‘‘The Diaspora’’), which
depicts Jewish people hatching a plot for Jewish control of
the world.
(6) The sharp rise in anti-Semitic violence has caused inter-
national organizations such as the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to elevate, and bring
renewed focus to, the issue, including the convening by the
OSCE in June 2003 of a conference in Vienna dedicated solely
to the issue of anti-Semitism.
(7) The OSCE convened a conference again on April 28–
29, 2004, in Berlin, to address the problem of anti-Semitism
with the United States delegation led by former Mayor of
New York City, Ed Koch.
(8) The United States Government has strongly supported
efforts to address anti-Semitism through bilateral relationships
and interaction with international organizations such as the
OSCE, the European Union, and the United Nations.
(9) Congress has consistently supported efforts to address
the rise in anti-Semitic violence. During the 107th Congress,
both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed reso-
lutions expressing strong concern with the sharp escalation
of anti-Semitic violence in Europe and calling on the Depart-
ment of State to thoroughly document the phenomenon.
(10) Anti-Semitism has at times taken the form of vilifica-
tion of Zionism, the Jewish national movement, and incitement
against Israel.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the United States Government should continue to
strongly support efforts to combat anti-Semitism worldwide
through bilateral relationships and interaction with inter-
national organizations such as the OSCE, the European Union,
and the United Nations; and
(2) the Department of State should thoroughly document
acts of anti-Semitism that occur around the world.
SEC. 4. REPORTS.
Not later than November 15, 2004, the Secretary of State
shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on International Relations of the House of
Representatives a one-time report on acts of anti-Semitism around
the world, including a description of—
(1) acts of physical violence against, or harassment
of, Jewish people, and acts of violence against, or vandalism
of, Jewish community institutions, such as schools, synagogues,
or cemeteries, that occurred in each country;
(2) the responses of the governments of those countries
to such actions;
Ed Koch.
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118 STAT. 1284
PUBLIC LAW 108–332—OCT. 16, 2004
(3) the actions taken by such governments to enact and
enforce laws relating to the protection of the right to religious
freedom of Jewish people;
(4) the efforts by such governments to promote anti-bias
and tolerance education; and
(5) instances of propaganda in government and nongovern-
ment media that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred
or incite acts of violence against Jewish people.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE TO MON-
ITOR AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM.
The State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 is amended
by adding after section 58 (22 U.S.C. 2730) the following new
section:
‘‘SEC. 59. MONITORING AND COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM.
‘‘(a) OFFICE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and
Combat anti-Semitism (in this section referred to as the ‘Office’).
‘‘(2) HEAD OF OFFICE.—
‘‘(A) SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MONITORING AND COMBATING
ANTI-SEMITISM.—The head of the Office shall be the Special
Envoy for Monitoring and Combating anti-Semitism (in
this section referred to as the ‘Special Envoy’).
‘‘(B) APPOINTMENT OF HEAD OF OFFICE.—The Secretary
shall appoint the Special Envoy. If the Secretary deter-
mines that such is appropriate, the Secretary may appoint
the Special Envoy from among officers and employees of
the Department. The Secretary may allow such officer or
employee to retain the position (and the responsibilities
associated with such position) held by such officer or
employee prior to the appointment of such officer or
employee to the position of Special Envoy under this para-
graph.
‘‘(b) PURPOSE OF OFFICE.—Upon establishment, the Office shall
assume the primary responsibility for—
‘‘(1) monitoring and combating acts of anti-Semitism and
anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries;
‘‘(2) coordinating and assisting in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by sections 116(d)(7) and 502B(b)
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)(7)
and 2304(b)) relating to an assessment and description of the
nature and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic
incitement for inclusion in the annual Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices; and
‘‘(3) coordinating and assisting in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by section 102(b)(1)(A)(iv) of
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6412(b)(1)(A)(iv)) relating to an assessment and description of
the nature and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic
incitement for inclusion in the Annual Report on International
Religious Freedom.
‘‘(c) CONSULTATIONS.—The Special Envoy shall consult with
domestic and international nongovernmental organizations and
multilateral organizations and institutions, as the Special Envoy
considers appropriate to fulfill the purposes of this section.’’.
22 USC 2731.
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118 STAT. 1285
PUBLIC LAW 108–332—OCT. 16, 2004
SEC. 6. INCLUSION IN DEPARTMENT OF STATE ANNUAL REPORTS OF
INFORMATION CONCERNING ACTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
(a) INCLUSION IN COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRAC-
TICES.—The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et
seq.) is amended—
(1) in section 116(d) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d))—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8), (9), and (10), as
paragraphs (9), (10), and (11), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(8) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and
extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement
that occur during the preceding year, including descriptions
of—
‘‘(A) acts of physical violence against, or harassment
of Jewish people, and acts of violence against, or vandalism
of Jewish community institutions, including schools, syna-
gogues, and cemeteries;
‘‘(B) instances of propaganda in government and non-
government media that attempt to justify or promote racial
hatred or incite acts of violence against Jewish people;
‘‘(C) the actions, if any, taken by the government of
the country to respond to such violence and attacks or
to eliminate such propaganda or incitement;
‘‘(D) the actions taken by such government to enact
and enforce laws relating to the protection of the right
to religious freedom of Jewish people; and
‘‘(E) the efforts of such government to promote anti-
bias and tolerance education;’’; and
(2) after the fourth sentence of section 502B(b) (22 U.S.C.
2304(b)), by inserting the following new sentence: ‘‘Wherever
applicable, a description of the nature and extent of acts of
anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur, including
the descriptions of such acts required under section 116(d)(8).’’.
(b) INCLUSION IN ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.—Section 102(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)(A)) is amended—
(1) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding after clause (iii) the following new clause:
‘‘(iv) wherever applicable, an assessment and
description of the nature and extent of acts of anti-
Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in
that country during the preceding year, including—
‘‘(I) acts of physical violence against, or harass-
ment of, Jewish people, acts of violence against,
or vandalism of, Jewish community institutions,
and instances of propaganda in government and
nongovernment media that incite such acts; and
‘‘(II) the actions taken by the government of
that country to respond to such violence and
attacks or to eliminate such propaganda or incite-
ment, to enact and enforce laws relating to the
protection of the right to religious freedom of
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118 STAT. 1286
PUBLIC LAW 108–332—OCT. 16, 2004
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2292:
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004):
May 7, considered and passed Senate.
Oct. 8, considered and passed House, amended.
Oct. 10, Senate concurred in House amendments.
Jewish people, and to promote anti-bias and toler-
ance education.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE OF INCLUSIONS.—The amendments made
by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply beginning with the first
report under sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)) and section 102(b)
of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6312(b)) submitted more than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
Approved October 16, 2004.
Applicability.
22 USC 2151n
note.
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