- This should worry ALL Americans
- Israel supporters move to impose censorship
in the US
-
- Global Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2004 (Introduced
in House)
-
- HR 4230 IH
- 108th CONGRESS
- 2d Session
-
- H. R. 4230
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- To authorize the establishment within the Department
of State of an Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, to require inclusion
in annual Department of State reports of information concerning acts of
anti-Semitism around the world, and for other purposes.
-
- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
-
- April 28, 2004
-
- Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. WAXMAN,
Mr. KIRK, and Mr. LEWIS of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on International Relations
-
- A BILL
-
- To authorize the establishment within the Department
of State of an Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, to require inclusion
in annual Department of State reports of information concerning acts of
anti-Semitism around the world, 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 `Global Anti-Semitism Awareness
Act of 2004'.
- SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
-
- Congress makes the following findings:
- (1) Acts of anti-Semitism in countries throughout the
world, including in some of the world's strongest democracies, have increased
significantly in frequency and scope over the last several years.
- (2) During the last three months of 2003 and the first
three 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, Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia told the 57 national leaders assembled
for the Organization of the Islamic Conference 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.
- (C) In Hobart, Australia, on January 5, 2004, poison
was used to ignite and burn anti-Semitic slogans into the lawns of the
Parliament House of 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, from March 19 to 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 synagogue
and on residential property in a nearby, predominantly Jewish, neighborhood.
- (F) In Toulon, France, on March 23, 2004, a Jewish synagogue
and community center were set on fire.
- (3) Anti-Semitism has at times taken the form of vilification
of Zionism, the Jewish national movement, and incitement against Israel.
- (4) Anti-Semitism is also increasingly emanating from
the Arab and Muslim world on a sustained basis, including through books
distributed by government-owned publishing houses in Egypt and other Arab
countries.
- (5) In November 2002, state-run television in Egypt broadcast
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.
- (6) In November 2003, Arab television featured an anti-Semitic
series entitled `Ash-Shatat' (`The Diaspora'), which depicts Jewish people
conspiring to gain control of the world.
- (7) The sharp rise in anti-Semitic violence has caused
international organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) to elevate and bring renewed focus to this issue, including
the convening by the OSCE in June 2003 of a conference in Vienna dedicated
solely to the issue of anti-Semitism.
- (8) On April 28-29, 2004, in Berlin, Germany, the OSCE
will again convene a conference dedicated to addressing the problem of
anti-Semitism, with the United States delegation to be led by former Mayor
of New York City Ed Koch.
- (9) The United States has vigorously 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.
- (10) 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 resolutions expressing strong
concern about the sharp escalation of anti-Semitic violence in Europe and
calling on the Department of State to thoroughly document the phenomenon.
- SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
-
- It is the sense of Congress that--
- (1) the United States should continue to vigorously support
efforts to combat anti-Semitism worldwide through bilateral relationships
and interaction with international organizations such as the Organization
of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
- (2) the United States delegation to the OSCE conference
in Berlin should advocate for the appointment of a High Commissioner on
anti-Semitism;
- (3) the President should direct the United States Ambassador
to the United Nations to introduce in the most appropriate forum in the
United Nations a measure condemning anti-Semitism;
- (4) the Secretary of State should establish a permanent
office in the Department of State to monitor and combat anti-Semitism;
and
- (5) the Department of State should thoroughly document
acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur around the
world.
- SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE TO
MONITOR 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 is authorized
and encouraged to establish 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- If the Secretary establishes the
Office pursuant to paragraph (1), the head of the Office shall be the Director
for Monitoring and Combatting anti-Semitism. The Secretary shall appoint
the Director of the Office.
- `(b) Purpose of Office- Upon establishment, the Office
shall assume the primary responsibility for--
- `(1) monitoring and combatting 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 a summary of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement
around the world 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)(C) of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)(C)) relating to an
assessment and description of the nature and extent of acts of anti-Semitism
and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries for inclusion
in the annual international religious freedom report.
- `(c) Consultations- The Director of the Office shall
consult with domestic and international nongovernmental organizations and
multilateral organizations and institutions as the Director considers appropriate
to fulfill the purposes of this section.
- `(d) Public Hearings and Evidence- The Director of the
Office may hold public hearings take testimony, and receive evidence as
the Director considers appropriate.'.
- SEC. 5. 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 Practices-
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended--
- (1) in section 116(d)(7) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)(7)), by
striking the semicolon and inserting `and a summary of acts of anti-Semitism
and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries, 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, synagogues, and cemeteries that
occurred in foreign countries during the preceding year;
- `(B) instances of propaganda in government and non-government
media and other sources in foreign countries that attempt to justify or
promote racial hatred or incite acts of violence against Jewish people;
- `(C) the actions, if any, taken by the governments of
such countries to respond to such violence and attacks or to eliminate
such propaganda or incitement;
- `(D) the actions taken by such governments to enact and
enforce laws relating to the protection of the right to religious freedom
of Jewish people; and
- `(E) the efforts of such governments to promote anti-bias
and tolerance education;'; and
- (2) in the fourth sentence of section 502B(b) (22 U.S.C.
2304(b)), by inserting before the period the following: `and a summary
of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign
countries, including the descriptions of such acts required under section
116(d)(7)'.
- (b) Inclusion in International Religious Freedom Report-
Section 102(b)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22
U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)) is amended--
- (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and
(F) as subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; and
- (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following
new subparagraph:
- `(C) Acts of anti-semitism- An assessment and description
of the nature and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement
that occur in foreign countries, including descriptions of--
- `(i) acts of physical violence against, or harassment
of, Jewish people, and acts of violence against, or vandalism of, Jewish
community institutions, including schools, synagogues, and cemeteries that
occurred in foreign countries during the preceding year;
- `(ii) instances of propaganda in government and non-government
media and other sources in foreign countries that attempt to justify or
promote racial hatred or incite acts of violence against Jewish people;
- `(iii) the actions, if any, taken by the governments
of such countries to respond to such violence and attacks or to eliminate
such propaganda or incitement;
- `(iv) the actions taken by such governments to enact
and enforce laws relating to the protection of the right to religious freedom
of Jewish people; and
- `(v) the efforts of such governments to promote anti-bias
and tolerance 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 one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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