- This should worry ALL Americans
-
Israel supporters move to
impose censorship in the US
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- Global Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2004
(Introduced in House)
-
- HR 4230 IH
- 108th CONGRESS
- 2d Session
-
- H. R. 4230
-
- 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.
