Visiting Israel, US President Biden Vows to Fight Antisemitism ‘Wherever It Raises Its Ugly Head’

In remarks upon landing at Ben-Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv on Wednesday at the start of his two-day trip to Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden drew attention to the dangers of rising antisemitism, and also the importance of remembering the Holocaust.

“Later today, I will once more return to the hallowed ground of Yad Vashem to honor the six million Jewish lives that were stolen in a genocide and continue — which we must do every, every day — continue to bear witness, to keep alive the truth and horror of the Holocaust, honor those we lost so that we never, ever forget that lesson, you know, and to continue our shared, unending work to fight the poison of antisemitism wherever it raises its ugly head,” Biden said. “Wherever we find it in the world, we make real on the promise of ‘never again’ by taking it on.”

After motorcading to Jerusalem, Biden arrived at Yad Vashem, where he participated in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and met with two Holocaust survivors.

Today, I paid a visit to the hallowed ground of Yad Vashem where I had the distinct honor of meeting Dr. Gita Cycowicz and Ms. Rena Quint, two Holocaust survivors.

I vow to continue our shared, unending work to fight the poison of antisemitism wherever we find it in the world. pic.twitter.com/h0YaU8kZaN

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 13, 2022

In the Yad Vashem guest book, the U.S. president wrote, “It is a great honor to be back — back to my emotional home. We must never, ever forget, because hate is never defeated. It only hides. We must teach every successive generation that it can happen again unless we remember. That is what I teach my children and grandchildren. Never forget.”

With antisemitism surging globally, accompanied by growing trends of Holocaust distortion, trivialization, and outright denial, it has become increasingly important for public figures to speak out and warn of the risks posed by unchecked Jew-hatred.