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“EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING MANIFESTATIONS OF ANTI-SEMITISM BY UNITED NATIONS MEMBER STATES” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H4152-H4157 on June 7, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING MANIFESTATIONS OF ANTI-SEMITISM BY
UNITED NATIONS MEMBER STATES
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 282) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding manifestations of anti-Semitism by United Nations member states and urging action against anti-Semitism by United Nations officials, United Nations member states, and the Government of the United States, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 282
Whereas the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that ``the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world'';
Whereas United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379
(1975) concluded that ``Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination'' and the General Assembly, by a vote of 111 to 25, only revoked Resolution 3379 in 1991 in response to strong leadership by the United States and after Israel made its participation in the Madrid Peace Conference conditional upon repeal of the resolution;
Whereas during the 1991 session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations repeated the outrageous ``blood libel'' that Jews allegedly have killed non-Jewish children to make unleavened bread for Passover and, despite repeated interventions by the Governments of Israel and the United States, this outrageous lie was not corrected in the record of the Commission for many months;
Whereas in March 1997, the Palestinian observer at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights made the contemptible charge that the Government of Israel had injected 300 Palestinian children with HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus, the pathogen that causes AIDS) despite the fact that an Egyptian newspaper had printed a full retraction to its earlier report of the same charges, and the President of the Commission failed to challenge this baseless and false accusation despite the request of the Government of Israel that he do so;
Whereas Israel was denied membership in any regional grouping of the United Nations until the year 2000, which prevented it from being a candidate for any elected positions within the United Nations system until that time, and Israel continues to be denied the opportunity to hold a rotating seat on the Security Council and it is the only member of the United Nations never to have served on the Security Council although it has been a member of the organization for 56 years;
Whereas Israel continues to be denied the opportunity to serve as a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights because it has never been included in a slate of candidates submitted by a regional grouping, and Israel is currently the only member of the Western and Others Group in a conditional status limiting its ability to caucus with its fellow members of this regional grouping;
Whereas the United Nations has permitted itself to be used as a battleground for political warfare against Israel led by Arab states and others, and 6 of the 10 emergency sessions of the United Nations General Assembly have been devoted to criticisms of and attacks against Israel;
Whereas the goals of the 2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism were undermined by hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric and anti-Israel political agendas, prompting both Israel and the United States to withdraw their delegations from the Conference;
Whereas in 2004, the United Nations Secretary General acknowledged at the first United Nations-sponsored conference on anti-Semitism, that: ``It is clear that we are witnessing an alarming resurgence of this phenomenon in new forms and manifestations. This time, the world must not--cannot--be silent.'';
Whereas in 2004, the United Nations General Assembly's Third Committee for the first time adopted a resolution on religious tolerance that includes condemnation of anti-Semitism and ``recognized with deep concern the overall rise in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many religious communities . . . including . . . anti-Semitism . . . '';
Whereas in 2005, the United Nations held an unprecedented session to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp;
Whereas democratic Israel is annually the object of nearly two dozen redundantly critical resolutions in the United Nations General Assembly, which rarely adopts resolutions relating to specific countries; and
Whereas the viciousness with which Israel is attacked and discriminated against at the United Nations should not be allowed to continue unchallenged: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the House of Representatives--
(A) welcomes recent attempts by the United Nations Secretary General to address the issue of anti-Semitism;
(B) calls on the United Nations to officially and publicly condemn anti-Semitic statements made at all United Nations meetings and hold accountable United Nations member states that make such statements; and
(C) strongly urges the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to develop and implement education awareness programs about the Holocaust throughout the world as part of an effort to combat the rise in anti-Semitism and racial, religious, and ethnic intolerance; and
(2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(A) the President should direct the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to continue working toward further reduction of anti-Semitic language and anti-Israel resolutions;
(B) the President should direct the Secretary of State to include in the Department of State's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and annual Report on International Religious Freedom information on activities at the United Nations and its constituent bodies relating to anti-Semitism by each of the countries included in these reports; and
(C) the President should direct the Secretary of State to use projects funded through the Middle East Partnership Initiative and United States overseas broadcasts to educate Arab and Muslim countries about anti-Semitism, religious intolerance, and incitement to violence.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would like to thank the leadership, the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Hyde), chairman of the Committee on International Relations, as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), our wonderful ranking member, for their efforts in bringing to the floor House Resolution 282.
The resolution, Madam Speaker, expresses the sense of the House of Representatives regarding manifestations of anti-Semitism by United Nations member states and urges action against anti-Semitism by United Nations officials, United Nations member states, and the government of the United States, and for other purposes.
My utmost appreciation goes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations, for his work on this resolution, for his commitment to combating the scourge of anti-Semitism, and for being an example of courage in the face of the most deplorable anti-Semitic acts. I thank the gentleman from California.
As we prepare to consider U.N. reform legislation, Madam Speaker, before the full Committee on International Relations tomorrow, the discussion of this measure is timely and it illustrates an important component of our multilateral strategies. For far too long, the United Nations has permitted itself to be used as a battleground for political warfare against Israel led by Arab states and others. Six of the 10 emergency sessions of the United Nations General Assembly have been devoted to criticisms of and attacks against Israel.
During the 1991 session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, for example, the Syrian representative to the U.N. repeated the outrageous blood libel that Jews have killed Christian and other non-
Jewish children to use their blood to make Matzoth.
In 1997, another terrible example, the Palestinian observer at the Human Rights Commission charged that the Israeli government had injected 300 Palestinian children with the HIV virus. This baseless charge was not challenged by the president of the Human Rights Commission or any other U.N. official.
Another example, the goals of the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism were undermined by hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric and anti-Israel political agendas, prompting both Israel and the United States to withdraw their delegations from the conference.
While recent efforts have been made to address this problem, Madam Speaker, such as the U.N.-sponsored conference on anti-Semitism or the session earlier this year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, much more needs to be done.
In response, the resolution before us, Madam Speaker, calls for the United Nations to officially and publicly condemn anti-Semitic statements in all U.N. meetings and hold accountable member states who make such statements.
It calls for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations, known as UNESCO, to develop and implement Holocaust education programs throughout the world as part of an effort to combat the rise in anti-Semitism.
Further, Madam Speaker, it calls for the United States Ambassador to the United Nations to continue working toward further reduction of anti-Semitic language and anti-Israel resolutions.
House Resolution 282 requests the Secretary of State to include in the Department of State's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and annual Report on International Religious Freedom information on activities regarding anti-Semitism at U.N. bodies by each of the countries included in these reports; and, further, it requests that projects under the Middle East Partnership Initiative and that U.S. overseas broadcasts include programs that educate Arab and Muslim countries about fighting anti-Semitism, about fighting religious intolerance and fighting incitement to violence.
As we have witnessed, historically and in today's world, such charged rhetoric as anti-Semitism invites violent action. There must, therefore, be renewed vigilance against purveyors of anti-Semitism, and the United Nations must be an integral component of any comprehensive strategy. It must help build a culture of tolerance. The United Nations must hold countries and their representatives accountable. It must make hateful rhetoric and incitement politically and culturally unacceptable, instead of offering an environment that enables the proliferation of anti-Semitism.
As was noted in a meeting last month with Natan Sharansky, strong U.S. leadership in placing human rights front and center on the diplomatic agenda has the potential to bring about dramatic political and social change. We must be willing to take a similar stance regarding anti-Semitism at the United Nations.
Let us begin by rendering our unequivocal support to this resolution and send a clear message to the United Nations and to its member countries that we are resolute in our commitment to fighting this evil.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, first I want to thank my good friend and colleague from Florida for her extraordinarily gracious and generous observations.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished Democratic whip.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking Democrat on the Committee on International Relations, who does such an extraordinary job and who knows firsthand the extraordinarily adverse consequences of racism and anti-Semitism and other ``isms'' wrought against human beings.
I also want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her sponsorship of this resolution and for her leadership on these issues.
Madam Speaker, intolerance based upon one's religious beliefs, ethnicity and race is a poison that has coursed throughout the body of human history; and it has caused untold pain, suffering and strife. Unfortunately, that is not on the ash bin of history. It is present today.
The Members of this House, the elected representatives of the strongest and freest nation on Earth, have a moral responsibility to expose and combat such intolerance and prejudice wherever it rears its head, whether it rears its head in the United States, in the United Nations, or any other place in the world. That is precisely what this important resolution seeks to do.
This resolution calls on the United Nations to officially and publicly condemn anti-Semitic statements made at U.N. meetings and by U.N. member states. It is to the discredit of the United Nations that anti-Semitism continues to find a forum in that body. This resolution also calls on the U.N. to create worldwide programs about the Holocaust in an effort to reduce anti-Semitism, and it directs the Secretary of State to report on anti-Semitic activities by the U.N. and its member countries.
Let me add, Madam Speaker, that last year I strongly supported language included in the omnibus appropriation act that directs the State Department to report on votes in the General Assembly concerning Israel. I regret to inform you, Madam Speaker, that there are nations, many nations, indeed the overwhelming majority of nations, who fail to support the United States and its positions on Israel more than 10 percent of the time, the majority of nations in the United Nations.
The disturbing, undeniable truth, Madam Speaker, is that rank anti-
Semitism continues today in the world body ostensibly dedicated to peace, understanding and tolerance.
Israel, Madam Speaker, is the only member of the U.N. to never have served on the Security Council. It is denied the opportunity to serve on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, while well-known human rights abusers, Syria, Sudan, Libya and countless others, serial abusers of human rights in their own countries, have served on that body. And each year, Madam Speaker, Israel is singled out for criticism nearly two dozen times in the general assembly, each year, while Sudan, who has seen the murder of thousands of people, or Rwanda, millions, or at least over a million, receives not the attention that it should.
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Madam Speaker, too many U.N. members believe that they can make anti-
Semitic statements and take anti-Semitic actions with impunity. This Nation ought to send a very loud, a very clear, a very definitive message that that is not the case. Anti-Semitism is unacceptable in any corner of the world, in any forum in the world, but particularly so in the forum committed to world peace, to world understanding.
Members who believe that they can act with impunity are wrong, and they must be held accountable. They must know that their anti-Semitic statements and actions not only affect their relationship with this Nation but also eviscerate their credibility in the family of civilized nations.
Again I congratulate the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from California for their leadership, not just on this resolution, Madam Speaker, but every day of every week of every month of every year because that is what it takes to ensure that anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, and every other kind of prejudice and bigotry is rejected in this body and in every place that we find men and women of goodwill.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Maryland for his powerful and eloquent statement.
I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I want to begin by commending the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for bringing this resolution to the floor today. I also want to thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her outstanding leadership on this issue.
Madam Speaker, it is high time to eradicate a sickening deficiency of the United Nations: its pathological persecution of one member, the democratic State of Israel, whose performance and standards are vastly superior to those of most of its nondemocratic detractors.
Over the years, the United States has occasionally used diplomacy at the United Nations to address this sickness, especially during the tenure of our distinguished Ambassadors Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Jeanne Kirkpatrick.
Recently, a renewed spasm of anti-Israeli activism has polluted critical United Nations mechanisms such as the General Assembly and the so-called Commission on Human Rights.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most disturbing experiences I personally have had during my service as a Member of Congress took place in August of 2001 when I was a member of the United States delegation to the United Nations World Conference against Racism at Durban, South Africa.
Secretary General Kofi Annan was anxious to use this conference as an opportunity to reinvigorate the world community in the fight against racism, bigotry, discrimination, and religious and ethnic intolerance. But, instead, we witnessed the hijacking of the conference by those who turned it into a vile outpouring of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment. This conference was one of the most vicious anti-Semitic displays I have seen since I witnessed the Holocaust in Hungary in the 1940s.
The draft document presented to the conference included phrases such as the ``racist practices of Zionism'' and where the Holocaust had been cited as an example of racism taken to extremes, Arab and Muslim states proposed replacing it with the term ``holocausts'' in the plural and lower case, which was yet another manifestation of propaganda to deny and to diminish the unique character of the Holocaust in which 6 million innocent human beings perished.
Despite repeated efforts of the United States and some other delegations to work with the problematic countries at Durban, South Africa, the underlying anti-Semitism, disguised as criticism of Israel, could not be resolved; and it was my privilege to lead the walk-out of the U.S. delegation from that conference. What could have been an important effort to revitalize the fight against racism and intolerance was turned into a lost opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, it is time once and for all for our diplomats to apply themselves in a sustained manner to defeating the absurd series of anti-Israeli resolutions that continue to crowd the agenda of the United Nations, pushing aside long overdue consideration of critical issues such as terrorism, AIDS, climate change, poverty, human rights abuses, and famine. Our resolution takes note of the efforts of some U.N. member countries to delegitimize the State of Israel by denying its opportunity to participate in U.N. organizations including the Security Council and the Human Rights Commission. It also notes that the United Nations has been used to attack the State of Israel. For example, of the emergency sessions of the General Assembly that have been called, six of the 10 were devoted solely to attacks against the State of Israel.
Our resolution, Mr. Speaker, commends recent examples of outstanding leadership in the fight against anti-Semitism. I want to single out Secretary General Kofi Annan, who led the effort to call an unprecedented special session of the General Assembly this past January to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.
At that special session, Kofi Annan said, ``The United Nations must never forget that it was created as a response to the evil of Nazism, or that the horror of the Holocaust helped to shape its mission. That response is enshrined in our Charter and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Such an evil must never be allowed to happen again. We must be on the watch for any revival of anti-Semitism and ready to act against the new forms of it that are happening today.'' From Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Mr. Speaker, our resolution urges the member states of the United Nations and our own government to step up the fight against anti-
Semitism, religious intolerance, and incitement to violence. In keeping with the original mission and the enduring vision of the United Nations as a beacon for humanity's potential at its best, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support our resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and ask unanimous consent that he be permitted to control that time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bishop of Utah). Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her usual gracious, generous gesture.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from California
(Mr. Lantos) for his leadership on this issue and so many other issues that are important to human rights around the world, and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her leadership on the committee and in bringing this resolution forward and dealing with human rights issues in the Middle East.
I also want to identify myself with the statements made by my colleagues, including the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
The rise of anti-Semitism globally is undisputable and it is unacceptable. As the ranking Democrat on the Helsinki Commission, I have worked with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), our chairman, to bring up anti-Semitism and fighting anti-Semitism as one of the highest priorities of our Helsinki Commission. I am pleased that as a result of the priority of our delegation, we are now having our third international meeting on anti-Semitism. That will be taking place this week in Spain.
In the second meeting that took place in Berlin, we were able to come out with a Berlin document, a declaration which stated unequivocally the condemnation by all 55 countries in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to condemn anti-Semitism and develop an action plan to fight anti-Semitism. It deals with law enforcement and sensitizing law enforcement. It deals with educating our children in Holocaust education. It deals with respect and understanding of people who have different religious beliefs.
Mr. Speaker, it is very wrong when individuals commit anti-Semitic actions. It is even worse when it is sponsored by a government or by international organizations. For that reason, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that we have the resolution before us today that speaks to the United Nations and to the actions within the United Nations. It must clean up its act in regards to its actions of discrimination and anti-
Semitism. It is unacceptable, and this resolution speaks to that. And I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 282, regarding manifestations of anti-Semitism by United Nations member states, and urging action against anti-Semitism by United Nations officials. We must not allow anti-Semitism to become a part of the leading international organization that proclaims ``the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world''.
I commend the International Relations Committee for acting on this resolution condemning the resurgence of anti-Semitism around the globe. As Ranking Member of the Helsinki Commission, I believe we must recognize that despite great achievements with respect to human rights around the world, much more can still be done.
The history of anti-Semitism is indisputable. Today, though, I want to discuss trend of a growth of anti-Semitism throughout the world today.
In the last Congress, to address this new wave of discrimination, I was pleased to join with Congressman Lantos and Helsinki Commission Chairman Chris Smith in working to enact the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004. The State Department then issued its first-ever global report on anti-Semitism, giving us a roadmap to build upon for the future.
Last year I traveled as part of the U.S. Delegation of the Helsinki Commission, with former Secretary of State Colin Powell, to attend a special conference in Berlin addressing anti-Semitism, held under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE). During the course of the trip I went to visit Auschwitz for the first time. That factory of death reaffirmed to me how we must tirelessly work to build understanding and respect between different communities to prevent future acts prejudice, discrimination, and ultimately violence.
At the Berlin Conference, I gave the official U.S. statement in the session on tolerance, and the meeting ended with the issuance of the Berlin Declaration of Action. The Declaration laid out a number of specific steps for states to take to combat the rising tide of anti-
Semitism, including specific actions regarding Holocaust education, data collection and monitoring of hate crimes against Jews, and improved coordination between non-governmental organizations and European law enforcement agencies.
As the leading international organization in the world, the United Nations must make it clear that anti-Semitism has no place within its walls. It must condemn anti-Semitic statements made at all meetings and hold accountable the United Nations member states that make such statements. This is the first step of many that will discourage anti-
Semitic sentiment from having any place with United Nations members.
Unfortunately, the United Nations has a long history of failing to aggressively combat instances of anti-Semitism within its institution. In 1975, the U.N. General Assembly concluded that ``Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination,'' and this resolution was not revoked until 1991, after strong leadership from the U.S., and Israel's refusal to participate in the Madrid Peace Conference unless the resolution was repealed.
Until the year 2000, Israel was denied membership in any regional grouping of the United Nations. It continues to be denied the opportunity to hold a rotating seat on the Security Council, making it the only member to have never served on the Security Council despite being a member of the UN for 56 years. Lastly, Israel continues to be denied the opportunity to serve as a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. These anti-Israeli actions must cease if we are serious about stopping anti-Semitism.
However, I am glad to note that the United Nations Secretary General has recently spoken out on the issue of anti-Semitism. In addition, in 2004 the General Assembly's Third Committee adopted a resolution on religious tolerance for the first time, which states in part its ``deep concern the overall rise in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many religious community . . . including .
. . anti-Semitism.'' As Israeli President Moshe Katsav reminded us at our Berlin conference last year, anti-Semitism should indeed receive special attention from the civilized world.
While I welcome these recent steps forward, the United Nations still has a long way to go to combat anti-Semitism. As this resolution states, we must implement awareness programs about the Holocaust throughout the world. This will promote more than just tolerance; it will help the world to achieve racial, religious, cultural, and ethnic acceptance and diversity, leading to a more peaceful and just society.
This resolution also requests that the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations continue working toward further reduction of anti-Semitic language and anti-Israel resolutions. It also asks the Department of State to include information on activities at the United Nations relating to anti-Semitism in its reports on Human Rights Practices and International Religious Freedom. Finally, it asks the Secretary of State to fund projects that educate Arab and Muslim countries about religious intolerance.
We must combat this rising tide of anti-Semitism in all of its forms, and ensure that it has no place anywhere in the world, especially the United Nations. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), my good friend and a very important member of the Committee on International Relations.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the gentleman from California, our senior ranking member, for yielding me this time to say a few words concerning this resolution.
I also want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida representing the majority and especially the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for his support and leadership in getting this resolution to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, in my visit to the Holocaust Museum here in our Nation's capital, I always come away with this great lesson that I learned about the suffering of some 6 million Jews in that terrible period during Nazi rule by Adolph Hitler. The words that come to my mind every time I visit that museum are the words ``never again.'' ``Never again.'' And I cannot help but express my sense of gratitude to the gentleman from California, not only as a child of the terrible conflict that occurred to his family but certainly who has been a great teacher and a mentor to me in understanding and appreciating what racism and bigotry and hatred is. And the fact that he has had to live that in his own life and has certainly been a great champion not only of the issues affecting the good people of the State of Israel, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for being that leader whom I admire and respect very much.
Mr. Speaker, the provisions of the resolution speaks for itself. It is time for the United Nations to give serious attention to this problem. Year after year, the only democratic government in the Middle East has been ostracized, condemned, vilified, falsely accused of so many things. I simply say, enough is enough, Mr. Speaker. I sincerely hope that copies of this resolution will be served to every ambassador from every country represented in the United Nations.
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We will let them know that the will of the Congress is expressly stated to this effect in the provisions of the resolution, that enough is enough.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for his eloquent and strong statement.
Mr. Speaker, let me just say that this resolution reflects the values of this body and of the American people, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to thank our wonderful friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for his leadership on this resolution, as well as the chairman, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). I urge all of our colleagues to adopt this resolution today.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking today in strong support of the resolution regarding the manifestations of anti-Semitism by United Nations member states.
I would like to praise Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for her tireless efforts as the chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia. Her commitment to fighting anti-Semitism is unparalleled and she has raised awareness of the issue both within the United Nations and throughout the world.
The state of Israel ardently strives to attain equality of rights which the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights recognizes as the best hope for freedom throughout the world.
However, the past actions of many United Nations member states have challenged this equality through many of their anti-Semitic resolutions, actions, and statements.
The regular manifestations of this blatant anti-Semitism occur throughout the course of the United Nation's history. Included in these acts are statements by members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, those individuals who should be acting upon anti-Semitism rather than participating in it.
I commend the UN for increasing awareness in the past few years of anti-Semitism and refusing to remain silent on this growing global problem. The recent session commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz marks a keystone in the United Nations' efforts to promote awareness of anti-Semitism.
Nevertheless, members states annually remain critical of Israel and refuse to allow Israel equal rights and opportunities within the United Nations. Israel should have the same chance to participate in the United Nations, rather than be ignored by those states which would seek to spread hateful anti-Jewish and anti-Israel agendas.
I believe that the United Nations should implement measures which: Publicly condemn those United Nations member states who make anti-
Semitic and racial remarks, hold those same member states who make anti-Semitic remarks accountable, and promote awareness of anti-
Semitism.
The United States must take a firm stand on this issue today. We must declare that neglecting the problem of anti-Semitism is unacceptable.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 282, which calls on the President to take steps to stem the ugly tide of anti-
Semitism at the United Nations and in the Middle East.
The hijacking of the United Nations by some member states is an attack against international peace and the founding principles of the U.N. The use of blood libels by representatives of member states, in reports, and by NGOs, is unacceptable and a betrayal of the U.N.'s mission.
The U.N. is robbed of its moral authority when member states hijack it for illicit purposes. Slandering an entire people, their aspirations for self-determination, and their homeland, is not acceptable. Excluding a member state from the community of nations because of ancient hatreds and slanders is unworthy of an organization founded to promote world peace and end human suffering.
Holding one nation to a standard no other nation is held to is, whether people wish to admit it or not, bigotry at its worst. No other nation would be denounced for taking steps to protect its citizens from acts of terror aimed intentionally at civilians. No nation has exercised as much restraint as Israel, yet no nation has been subjected to condemnation, indeed vilification and demonization, including those countries that practice slavery, torture, and genocide, some of whom have been privileged to sit on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights--a right denied to Israel in the more than half-century it has been a member.
Mr. Speaker, the United Nations is only as strong and decent as its member nations. That is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. When the nations of the world stand by, or worse, participate in, the vilification of the Jewish people, it is a reflection not just on the institution, but on the failings of its members.
I believe it is time for the President to do more to press the U.N., and its member states, to bring an end to institutionalized anti-
Semitism. It is not enough to criticize the U.N. It is not enough to denounce anti-Semitism.
This administration must exert pressure on those countries that have gotten a pass on their efforts both in the U.N. and in other forums. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who distort the mission of the U.N., must be held to account for their actions.
The United Nations is capable of good and important work, in the eradication of disease, in alleviating poverty. It can and should do more, but it can never live up to its potential and its mission unless it sheds the stain of anti-Semitism.
The United States must take the lead in this important effort. I support this resolution. I hope that the President heeds its message and does what he must do to end the bitter reign of anti-Semitism at the U.N.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in support of House resolution 282 and encourage members of the International community to continue to aggressively condemn anti-
Semitic actions and statements.
For over sixty years, world history and international perspectives have been shaped by the painful reminders of the events of World War II. Blind eyes could not hide the effect racism had during the Holocaust that affected millions of Jewish men, women and children. And now, many years later, I join with others to continue to remind the world community to resist the small seeds of hate that once led to the attempted annihilation of an entire race of people.
More now than ever, we must all take a proactive stance against views that promote racial, religious and ethnic intolerance. America's past is certainly imperfect. However, the lessons of the past remind us that through these imperfections we were able to unite and build alliances that promoted a stronger and wiser nation. I now call upon the International community to also build alliances and word for peace by actively condemning the increasing culture of anti-Semitic views and religious intolerance.
Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives voted to urge the United Nations to take bold action against anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment. I commend my colleagues for keeping the U.N.'s feet to the fire on an issue of such great importance. And I thank Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for introducing this bill and for her continued vigilance in support of America's greatest ally in the Middle East.
The U.N. is supposed to be a neutral authority working towards global unity. But in fact, it has helped the enemies of Israel internationalize their war against the Jewish state.
Many people know about the 1975 U.N. resolution equating Zionism with racism. Sadly, that is only 1 of the 322 resolutions condemning Israel that the U.N. has passed since 1948.
The U.N. issued Resolution 476 in 1980 declaring Israel's claim to Jerusalem ``null and void.'' It passed Resolution 487 in 1981 to
``strongly condemn'' Israel for its attack on Iraq's nuclear facility. And in 2003, the U.N. condemned Israel for building its security fences. These are the same fences that have cut suicide bombings by 75% and Israeli fatalities by 55%.
The U.N. is routinely silent on deadly suicide attacks--like the Hamas Passover massacre that killed 30 people at an Israeli hotel. But it will loudly condemn Israel for its military response to such terror. Remarkably, the U.N.'s balance sheet defends countries like Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, while attacking Israel as a regional aggressor.
This imbalance is unreasonable. But it is hardly the U.N.'s worst masquerading. The U.N. pretends to give a voice to all countries. But when it comes to offering countries a seat on the Security Council, only Israel is barred.
And while 4 of the 7 stage sponsors of terror--Cuba, Libya, Sudan, and Syria--are members of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Israel cannot even be a candidate. The commission spends 26% of its resolutions condemning Israel, yet Israel doesn't even have a forum to respond.
The news gets worse. The U.N. has decided that its Commission on Human Rights is good enough for all the world's refugees, except the Palestinians. They get their own organization--the U.N. Relief Works Agency (UNRWA).
And instead of being resettled like the rest of the world's 20 million refugees, the Palestinians are kept in camps. It is no surprise that the result has been a breeding ground for violence. More than 48 terrorist operatives have been educated in UNRWA schools. And this past January, the head of UNRWA acknowledged that members of Hamas are on his payroll. Since 1950, UNRWA has been bad for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and it is time the U.N. took responsibility for solving the problem.
Earlier this year, Kofi Annan made a move towards accountability by publicly outlining a series of proposed U.N. reforms. Some of the suggested shakeups of discredited U.N. bodies like the Human Rights Commission are steps in the right direction. But it is hard to trust a Secretary General who spent part of a trip to the Middle East placing a wreath on Yasser Arafat's grave. And even harder to overlook 50 years of U.N. antagonism against Israel.
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 282, which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives regarding manifestations of anti-Semitism by United Nations member states and urges action against anti-Semitism by United Nations officials, United Nations member states, and the Government of the United States.
As we commemorate the invasion of Normandy this week, it is important to remember that the evil the world was fighting then persists today. Recent accounts of anti-Semitic assaults are reminiscent of those encountered before and during World War II. In the suburbs of Antwerp, Belgium, four youths were assaulted on their way home from their Jewish school by a group of men yelling anti-Semitic insults. One of the students was stabbed and seriously injured. In Toulon, France a synagogue and a community center were set on fire. In Dusseldorf, Germany, an ancient Jewish cemetery was desecrated with swastikas and SS symbols. In the United Kingdom, a Jewish woman was beaten severely by three of her neighbors because her mail was written in Hebrew, and they suspected her of being Israeli.
The United Nations and the international community must act swiftly and address this immediate threat. The United Nations and world leaders must shake themselves out of indifference and rise above political considerations that have blinded them to the magnitude of rising anti-
Semitic assaults. The international community must remember its commitment to prevent a recurrence of horrors the world witnessed 60 years ago and take meaningful actions to combat this rise in anti-
Semitism.
In the last few years, the United Nations and Secretary General Kofi Annan have begun to formally recognize and address this rise in anti-
Semitism. Just last year, the United Nations sponsored a conference on anti-Semitism and for the first time the United Nations General Assembly's Third Committee adopted a resolution that condemns anti-
Semitism.
Although these recent actions by the United Nations are positive steps, I believe that the United Nations must do more to combat this evil. The United Nations should first begin within its own organization and end the practice of tolerating hateful rhetoric. The United Nations must go further in condemning member nations and United Nations officials that use anti-Semitic language. Additionally, the United Nations should acknowledge the detrimental effects of anti-Israel resolutions and work towards reducing their frequency.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation and to remain committed to combating the evil of anti-Semitism.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bishop of Utah). The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 282.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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