Rosen, Lankford Statement Applauding Argentina and Serbia for Adopting IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism

Press Release

U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK), co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, released the following statement applauding Argentina and Serbia for recently adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition on anti-Semitism.

"We have long-supported adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which is a helpful tool to train law enforcement and inform educators about how to identify and combat anti-Semitism," said the Senators. "We applaud Argentina and Serbia for joining the United States State Department and other countries in adopting this definition. As we witness a dangerous spike in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide, we call on the U.S. and other countries to follow their example and join together in the fight against hate."

BACKGROUND: On June 1 and June 7, 2020, respectively, Serbia and Argentina announced the adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. In 2016, the IHRA consortium of 31 countries at the time, including the United States, Israel, and most of Europe, developed and formally adopted the Working Definition of Antisemitism: "Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." The working definition also includes several important illustrations of anti-Semitism in order to provide a non-exhaustive list of helpful examples.

Last year, Senators Rosen and Lankford launched the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism. The Task Force now has 40 Senators, with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.

In January, Senators Rosen and Lankford, along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by Allied Forces during World War II. The bipartisan resolution unanimously passed the Senate in February.

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