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State Dept.'s Anti-Semitism Report a Good First Step,

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  • State Dept.'s Anti-Semitism Report a Good First Step,

    State Dept.'s Anti-Semitism Report a Good First Step, But Softpeddles Some
    Arab Gov't-Sponsored Anti-Semitism


    PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The State Department's first
    annual report on global anti-Semitism deserves praise for its strong
    definition of anti-Semitism, but the report fails to give adequate
    attention to anti-Semitism sponsored by some Arab governments, an
    analysis by The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies has
    concluded.

    "It is encouraging that the report includes Israel-Nazi analogies in
    its definition of anti-Semitism, but it is disappointing that the
    report says so little about some Arab governments which promote such
    analogies and other types of anti- Semitism," said Wyman Institute
    director Dr. Rafael Medoff.

    The State Department's report, issued Friday, is mandated by the
    recently-passed Global Anti-Semitism Review Act, sponsored last summer
    by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and signed into law by President Bush in
    October. The Lantos bill came in response to the rising tide of
    global anti-Semitism, especially in Europe and the Middle East.

    During Congressional consideration of the measure, the Wyman Institute
    organized a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell,
    signed by 108 prominent American political and cultural leaders, which
    helped Lantos over come the State Department's opposition to the bill.

    The report provides the first official U.S. government definition of
    anti-Semitism, and this is one of the report's strongest aspects. It
    states that in addition to direct attacks on Jews or Judaism, "The
    demonization of Israel or vilification of Israeli leaders, sometimes
    through comparisons with Nazi leaders, and through the use of Nazi
    symbols to caricature them, indicates an anti-Semitic bias rather than
    a valid criticism of policy concerning a controversial issue."

    The 37-page report, covering the period from July 1, 2003 through
    December 15, 2004, offers summaries of anti-Semitic incidents in
    various countries and of what actions in response have been taken by
    government authorities. Surprisingly, more space is given to some
    European and South American countries where there has been relatively
    little anti-Semitism, and noticeably less space to some Arab countries
    where government-sponsored anti- Semitism is widespread.

    For example, the section about Iceland is 387 words long, even though
    the report notes only one instance of anti-Semitic harassment and one
    hostile cartoon there. By contrast, Saudi Arabia is given just 182
    words, including the apparently contradictory statements that
    "Anti-Semitic sentiments...were present in the print and electronic
    media. The local press rarely printed articles or commentaries
    disparaging other religions."

    Only 86 words are devoted to the Palestinian Authority, more than half
    of which discussed a sermon on PA Television by a Muslim preacher
    urging tolerance (but not mentioning Jews). That sermon unfortunately
    was not typical of sermons that are broadcast on PA tv and radio,
    which often contain anti-Semitic themes, including denial of the
    Holocaust. Additionally, the State Department report does not mention
    instances of anti-Semitism in the PA- controlled press. Surprisingly,
    Armenia (194 words), Brazil (149), and Azerbaijan (142), where there
    is little reported anti- Semitism and no evidence of
    government-sponsored anti-Semitism, are given more space in the report
    than the Palestinian Authority.

    ------

    ABOUT THE WYMAN INSTITUTE: The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust
    Studies, located on the campus of Gratz College (near Philadelphia),
    is a research and education institute focusing on America's response
    to the Holocaust. It is named in honor of the eminent historian and
    author of the 1984 best-seller The Abandonment of the Jews, the most
    important and influential book concerning the U.S. response to the
    Nazi genocide.

    The Institute's Advisory Committee includes Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
    Elie Wiesel, Members of Congress, and other luminaries.

    The Institute's Academic Council includes 48 leading professors of the
    Holocaust, American history, and Jewish history.

    The Institute's Arts & Letters Council, chaired by Cynthia Ozick,
    includes prominent artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers.

    (A complete list is available upon request.)

    http://www.usnewswire.com

    Contact: Rafael Medoff of David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust
    Studies, 215-635-5622 or rafaelmedoff(At)aol.com

    01/10 11:53
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