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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
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