NEW YORK —
As Hamas rockets rain down on Israel and antisemitic hate continues to dangerously
spread online and in communities, dozens of Jewish legislators and elected
officials from around the world came together during the World Jewish Congress’
16th
Plenary Assembly.
During the gathering. the first consultation in five years of the relaunched
International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP), participants discussed
how to use their platforms and positions to fight antisemitism and advance
human rights. Newly
named Global Chair of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians,
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, who led today’s conversation, said, “No issue
threatens the Jewish community more than the alarming rise of anti-Semitism and
violent extremism. This is true in the United States, and it's true in Israel,
Europe, Latin America, and countries all around the world. By promoting
dialogue and collaboration between Jewish parliamentarians from different
nations, the ICJP helps advance policies that support human rights and
democracy. It was an honor to speak to them today about the critically
important work we must continue to do to combat anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and
racism through educating and legislating. “I
am grateful to Ambassador Ronald Lauder’s leadership as President of the World
Jewish Congress, and for working to reconvene the Council at this critical
moment for Jews around the world.” Sen.
Rosen opened the meeting by introducing Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish
Congress, who placed the event in the context of the
Hamas rocket attacks on Israel over the past several days and nights. Amb. Lauder
said, “As the Jewish world
unites in solidarity with Israel as it defends itself from terrorism, the
relaunching of this critical global body, the International Council of Jewish
Parliamentarians, could not be more timely. We live in an era of conspiracy
myths, rising antisemitism and xenophobia, and a disturbing recurrence of
Holocaust denial online and offline, and the ICJP has a powerful role to play
in countering these troubling, dangerous phenomena. “Under the
leadership of Senator Jacky Rosen, a tremendous advocate in the fight against antisemitism
and a leading legislator in efforts to combat the world’s oldest hatred, the
ICJP creates a space for Jewish parliamentarians to come together, share
experiences, discuss priorities, and unite in a common fight for human rights
and democracy. I am looking forward to partnering with Sen. Rosen and
parliamentarians from across the globe in advancing our shared values through
this significant and influential forum.” Sen. Rosen shared with her fellow parliamentarians a word of caution in referencing the threat posed by recent incidents of antisemitic hate and violence in Charlottesville, Va., Poway, Calif., and Pittsburgh, Penn., as well as the rampant spread of conspiracy myths and lies targeting Jews during the coronavirus pandemic, “Let me be clear: These are not isolated incidents. They represent a step back for the safety and well-being of the Jewish people. Across the globe – from the U.S. to Europe to the Middle East, antisemitism is on the rise, it’s on the streets, it’s online, it’s in political parties, and it’s even on college campuses. “This
is something that we must come together to confront head-on. We have a
responsibility to our neighbors, to our friends, to our community, and to our
children to help prevent antisemitism before it starts.” U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, North American ICJP Co-Chair,
led the second half of the conversation, emphasizing the troubling trend of
rising antisemitism in the U.S. and globally and the current violence in Israel.
He said to his fellow parliamentarians, “I don’t have to tell any of you that the principles of democracy, human
rights and the rule of law are under attack in many places around the world.
The forces of racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, terrorism and Holocaust denial
are growing threats to peace and stability, not only to the Jewish community
but starting with the Jewish community. “It
affects every Jewish community – all of us – because we are one Jewish
community. As Jewish parliamentarians, we have to fight antisemitic attacks
wherever they occur. We must come to the defense of every Jew, every Jewish
community facing hatred and violence. And right now, at this very moment,
Israelis, our Israeli colleagues, the Israeli people, are under siege by Hamas
terrorists launching rockets with the sole purpose of killing as many civilians
as they can, and we, Jewish parliamentarians, cannot afford to be silent. … “We must
say unequivocally that there is no place on earth where a terror group firing
hundreds of rockets on innocent civilians should be defended or its actions
justified – not if human rights matter to us. The attack on Israel is an attack
on the Jewish state, and attacks on our people is something that all of us here
understand uniquely and are tasked with speaking out on forcefully.” Canadian House of Commons MP Anthony Housefather,
North American ICJP Co-Chair, discussed legislators’ role working with Jewish community
organizations to ensure their voices are heard via committee testimony and to
guide parliamentary bodies’ prioritization of issues. In describing his
collaboration with fellow ICJP members to develop an international task force
to combat online hate, he said, “That needs to be a priority of this group
because the vast majority of antisemitic incidents today start online. … “I look
forward to working with Jewish parliamentarians around the world who have
different challenges in our own countries, but share common bonds as Jews and
people who care about Israel as a centrality for the Jewish people. I think
this group can do so much.” Knesset member Merav Ben Ari, Israeli ICJP Co-Chair,
shared the fear last night of waking up with her four-year-old daughter in the
middle of the night, to the sound of a bomb hitting Tel Aviv, urging those in
other countries to understand the current violence as antisemitism. New British House of Lords member Baroness Gillian
Merron, European ICJP Co-Chair, conveyed how her experience as a member of
the British House of Commons for 13 years, and as Chief Executive of the Board
of Deputies of British Jews representing 300,000 Jews, has educated her on the
importance of communities around the world building relationships with
legislators of all religions and none. “I think that it’s absolutely crucial for
parliamentarians who are Jewish from across the world, that we ensure that
speaking up for the Jewish community is not just our responsibility. It should
be the responsibility of all parliamentarians, indeed whether or not they have
constituents – if they are elected – who are Jewish, because the values, the
concerns, the issues that we bring are ones that I believe are about freedom,
about dignity and decency.” Chamber of Deputies of Argentina member Waldo Wolff,
Latin American ICJP Co-Chair, discussed the need to protect the Jewish
people’s common goals and identity, including the right to exist as a people. “We have to defend our right to express
ourselves and defend the right of Israel to exist. In these times, we can recognize
who are our true friends.” He shared the positive note that much has improved
since before Israel became the Jewish state, and applauded the global support
in this moment “expressing solidarity with the right of the state of Israel to
exist.” ICJP members then participated in the conversation via
formal interventions. National Assembly of Bahrain member Nancy Khedouri praised
the lack of antisemitism in the kingdom, coexistence among people of different
religions, and the advancement of women in society. Vivian Teitelbaum, member of the Parliament of the
Brussels Capital Region, raised disturbing issues in Belgium including a
lack of political will to fight antisemitism, denial of the growth of
antisemitism and even its existence. In praising the relaunch of the ICJP, she
said “We need to be able to unite forces and exchange experiences and best
practices on how to address these issues. … Networking to tackle these issues
together gives strength to the message, and also to our individual actions.” British House of Lords member Baroness Ruth Deech raised
the need for elected officials to take action to prevent and respond to
antisemitism. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz focused on the
situation in Israel – “No nation should be subject to the barrage of rocket
fire or endure this kind of bloody assault as Israel has once again. I’m
extremely concerned by those who purposely demonize Israel’s conduct while
ignoring Israel’s right to self-defense including its obligation to protect all
of its citizens. We pray for peace and security for all and a return to working
toward a viable two-state solution. And while Israel is in such a vulnerable
state, we must be more vigilant than ever because unfortunately, opposition to
Israel’s actions too often spurs antisemitism with the United States and around
the world. It’s an unfair criticism over and over again when nations around the
world whose actual atrocities are ignored, yet every action taken by Israel is
disproportionately reacted to. It’s unacceptable.” U.S. Rep.
Kathy Manning, former
chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, described personal
experiences being in Israel at times when it was under attack, and the
“unleashing of antisemitism” in Washington, D.C., when the insurrection
happened on her fourth day as a member of Congress this January. Summarizing
the perspectives of many voices in today’s conversation, she expressed her
excitement at working from a new vantage point with fellow Jews around the
globe and how “It’s critically important that we work together and find common
ground with allies outside of the Jewish community who are willing to work with
us.” About the
WJC Plenary Assembly The WJC Plenary Assembly takes place every four years and
brings together delegates from WJC-affiliated Jewish communities and
organizations in more than 100 countries around the world. The Plenary Assembly
elects WJC leadership and sets policy for the years ahead. This year, Plenary
Assembly delegates have been gathering remotely since mid-April and through the
end of May for discussions on key issues affecting Jewish communities. Among the
slate of events, the WJC convened leading level government representatives at
the national level whose work focuses on preventing, countering and educating
around antisemitism. WJC’s Special Envoys and Coordinators
Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Forum discussed to shared strategies and international
cooperation. Topical discussion sessions have covered a conversation
with Facebook leadership on its efforts to counter and remove online hate,
a Ramadan
celebration with leading Islamic representatives from the Muslim World League,
Israel’s political future, the Iranian
nuclear threat, and the
role of young leaders within their communities. About
the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians The International Council of Jewish
Parliamentarians (ICJP) is the global
network of Jewish legislators, government ministers, and other elected
officials. The forum aims to promote dialogue and collaboration between
Jewish parliamentarians; to support the principles of democracy, the cause of
human rights, and the rule of law; and to combat racism, antisemitism,
xenophobia, terrorism, and Holocaust denial by those means available
to legislators and government ministers. The
ICJP strives for the creation of an enduring peace in the Middle East
and works to protect the welfare of Jews and Jewish communities worldwide. The
forum provides for the exchange of best practices and seeks to address the
challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide. The
ICJP is led by U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen. Sen. Rosen, a leader in advancing and
responding to the concerns of Jewish communities, launched the first ever U.S.
Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, worked on bipartisan
legislation to elevate the U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and
Combat Anti-Semitism to the position of ambassador, introduced the Never Again
Education Act to provide resources and training to teach students across the
United States the lessons of the Holocaust, and has long supported the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program which
protects synagogues and Jewish community centers against the threat of violence
and terror.About the World Jewish Congress
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