Strongly Condemning and Denouncing the Drastic Rise of Antisemitism in the United States and Around the World

Floor Speech

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Mr. KUSTOFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution that strongly condemns the dramatic rise of anti-Semitism both here in our Nation and abroad.

Last week, I had the privilege and the honor, frankly, of speaking with Amir Ohana, who is the Speaker of the Knesset. We discussed a lot of things. We talked about how life has changed not only in Israel but around the world since Hamas' horrific and brutal terrorist attack against Israelis on October 7. We also talked about how we have seen an absolute explosion of anti-Semitic incidents, attacks, and harassment in Israel, here in our own Nation, and across the world.

Mr. Speaker, two interesting statistics, if I can: According to the Anti-Defamation League, since the Hamas massacre on October 7, anti- Semitic incidents around our Nation have increased over 400 percent compared to the same time period last year.

The second statistic, Mr. Speaker, more Jews were murdered on October 7 than on any other single day since the Holocaust. Let that sink in.

We have seen Members of this very body repeat blatantly anti-Semitic rhetoric and spread lies about Israel and her right to exist. Let me be absolutely clear: Such hate has no place in the Halls of Congress nor in our national discourse.

It is our fundamental responsibility as leaders and as Members of Congress to condemn and fight these horrific acts of hate and discrimination against the Jewish community.

That is why I am proud to work with my colleague, Congressman Max Miller, to introduce this critical resolution to condemn and denounce all instances of domestic and global anti-Semitism.

A few months ago, Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity--really, the privilege--to take a group of people through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

A lot of us have been there. It is not too far away from here in the Capitol where we are standing. That museum serves not only as a reminder of the atrocities that took place during the Holocaust, but it also serves as a stark reminder that we can never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and that we, as leaders, have an obligation and a duty to make sure that it never happens again.

For these reasons, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this very simple, yet critical, resolution.

It is absolutely important that we send a clear and firm message to the world that the United States House of Representatives stands shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community here in the United States and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, as Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah very soon in the next few days, we should remember the words of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.

He said: ``Hanukkah tells us not to curse the darkness, but instead to bring light to the world. It tells us to fight back and not be afraid.''

We should truly heed those words. I thank my colleagues for supporting this resolution.

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