| WASHINGTON,
D.C. – An American delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, which included U.S. Representative
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and representatives of the German Bundestag held
a panel presentation to highlight the alarming escalation of anti-Semitic
violence occurring throughout the OSCE region.
“Far
too many incidents of anti-Semitism are taking place in our allies’ cities,
including a gasoline bomb attack on a Brussels synagogue and the beating
of Jewish students in Berlin. These acts of bigotry are a grave violation
of human rights and European leaders must take action to bring the perpetrators
to justice,” said Schakowsky.
Distinguished
presenters included Mr. Abraham Foxman, National Director, Anti-Defamation
League; Dr. Shimon Samuels, Director for International Liaison Simon Wiesenthal
Center – Paris; Dr. Wolfgang Benz, Director of the Center for anti-Semitic
Research at the Technical University of Berlin; and Dr. Julius Schoeps,
Professor of Modern History, University of Potsdam & Director of the
Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies.
Furthermore,
the U.S. delegation introduced a resolution which was adopted by the OSCE
parliamentary Assembly that “Unequivocally condemns the alarming escalation
of anti-Semitic violence throughout the OSCE region;” calls on OCSE
states to use “aggressive law enforcement by local and national authorities,
including thorough investigation of anti-Semitic criminal acts, apprehension
of perpetrators, initiation of appropriate criminal prosecutions and judicial
proceedings;” and urges all states to declare violence against “Jews
and Jewish cultural properties as anti-Semitic.”
“The
resolution is an acknowledgment by OSCE member nations that acts of hate
and terror against Jewish men, women, and children and Jewish institutions
are on the rise across Europe. This is a matter of serious concern that
demands immediate attention,” Schakowsky added.
Schakowsky
returned to Washington, D.C. in time to vote for H.Res. 393, legislation
condemning the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. The legislation states
that “the governments of Europe should take all necessary steps to protect
the safety and well-being of their respective Jewish communities; and (2)
the governments of Europe should make a concerted effort to cultivate an
atmosphere of cooperation and reconciliation among the Jewish and non-Jewish
residents of Europe.” Schakowsky is an original cosponsor of
H.Res. 393. |
