The White House’s new National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism — which was unveiled last Thursday — is a welcome and timely initiative that is deeply appreciated by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) for the serious and comprehensive way it lays out the many avenues to address rising bigotry targeting the U.S. Jewish community. However, we would be remiss if we did not point out several reservations and suggestions as the Biden administration tries to implement this plan.
The @WhiteHouse‘s new National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism is a welcome and timely initiative that is deeply appreciated by CAM for the serious and comprehensive way it lays out the many avenues to address rising bigotry targeting the U.S. Jewish community.
However, we…
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) May 28, 2023
While the strategy rightly raises alarm about antisemitism rooted in white supremacist ideology, it does not highlight enough the threats posed by other, equally menacing and potent, manifestations of Jew-hatred, including from the far-left and the radical Islamist communities in the U.S. Contemporary antisemitism, in all its forms, must be confronted with the same vigor and resources.
In addition to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, the strategy also praises alternative definitions, most notably the “Nexus Document.”
If the White House wants its strategy to be a success, it must center its implementation efforts solely around the IHRA definition, the most authoritative and widely-accepted tool to delineate all variations of modern-day antisemitism.
Furthermore, the strategy highlights an initiative to be taken by the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) “to educate religious communities about steps they can take to protect their houses of worship from hate incidents.”
Given CAIR’s checkered history of regularly defaming and demonizing the Jewish people and state, it is not a legitimate partner in the collective effort against antisemitism.
Why would the White House include CAIR, an organization accused of supporting Hamas and being antisemitic, as one of the main NGOs to implement the new antisemitism plan?
Analysis by @ZvikaKlein | #Antisemitism https://t.co/MHgekCvQmB
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) May 28, 2023
While not mentioned in the report, CAM — along with its 740 interfaith partners and millions of engaged grassroots followers — stands ready to do its part to assist in this vital endeavor to turn back the surging tide of antisemitism, both in the United States and across the globe.
CAM Advisory Board Chairman Natan Sharansky tweeted on Monday, “To @POTUS and the @WhiteHouse, thank you for your prioritization of the fight against rising antisemitism! Your groundbreaking new national strategy presented last week will help foster the broad united front needed to combat this societal scourge effectively in the U.S.”
“Your embrace of @theIHRA Working Definition is critically important, and it must be given an exclusive role in the plan’s implementation, as it is the only definition that covers my “three Ds” of modern-day antisemitism — delegitimization, demonization, and double standards,” he added.
To @POTUS and the @WhiteHouse, thank you for your prioritization of the fight against rising antisemitism! Your groundbraking new national strategy presented last week will help foster the broad united front needed to combat this societal scourge effectively in the U.S.
— Natan Sharansky (@natan_sharansky) May 29, 2023
