It is with sorrow that I wish to open with reference to the massacre that took place on Saturday in Pittsburg, at a synagogue, during the ceremony of Brit Milah – the sealing of the covenant between every Jewish baby and God. 11 Jews were killed in Synagogue Etz Hayim-Or LeSimcha, for being Jewish. 

I wish I would not have such a clear and recent example for the topic at hand, but to my great sorrow I do. 

Racism is rooted in fear. Fear of others with a different skin color, or of a different origin, or of a different faith of background. Racism is fear of the other that can quickly deteriorate into prejudice and violence.

The Jewish people have a unique and well-known experience with the downward spiral of racism. Six million Jews, among them 1.5 million children, were exterminated by the Nazi regime and its collaborators in the Holocaust. Prior to that, Jews in Eastern Europe and in many other places were subjects to dehumanizing and violent attacks at work, home and schools, known as pogroms. Even to this very day, in many parts of the world, Jews cannot walk down the street wearing a Kippah – a traditional head covering - without fearing for their lives. Even within modern governments, members of parliament proudly mourn lives of Black September terrorists, who murdered eleven Jewish athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Needless to say, antisemitism is alive and well.

Earlier this year, the world witnessed yet another outrageous, anti-Semitic hate crime. Mireille Knoll, an 85-year-old French Jewish woman, a Holocaust survivor, was repeatedly stabbed and then set on fire by  her neighbor – one she thought was her friend. Thankfully, the people of Paris did not stand for this outrageous act of violence, and showed solidarity with Mireille and her family by marching through the streets of Paris. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the fact that this cold blooded, immoral event took place in 2018, not 1942, and the course of action of the people of Paris is the exception – not the rule.

 

Madame Chair,

According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, the working definition of Antisemitism includes, though not limited to, demonizing the Jewish people, spreading myths about a so-called world Jewish conspiracy, denying Holocaust, and denying the right of the Jewish people, as people, to self-determination. 

This should make us all worry as it means that among the United Nations member states there are several who are guilty of Antisemitism - some of which are embraced and applauded to in these halls. Countries in this room allow protestors to chant “death to the Jews.” They perpetuate Holocaust denial. And far too many of them describe the only Jewish State in the world as something that has no right to exist. 

Furthermore, in this room there are those who attempt to redefine Antisemitism – which is an anti-Semitic act by itself. They attempt to broaden the term so it would lose its original meaning, and become a vague term that can be utilized in whichever way they choose. 

But let it be clear – Antisemitism will not disappear if we change its definition, nor will it cease to exist if we deny it is out there, as well as in these chambers. 

Antisemitism is not a Jewish problem either, or even an issue concerning the Jews. It is an issue that should concern every person here, and every country represented in this house – because antisemitism has always been the first sign of many other forms of racism. 

Where antisemitism is allowed to exist, other forms of racism will thrive as well. 

Madame Chair,

We must counter the momentum of Antisemitism worldwide – and we must start here. If we bring world leaders together to stand in solidarity against this agonizing form of racism, we will stand a chance in our fight to defeat it.  

For this reason, the Permanent Mission of Israel together with the Permanent Missions of Canada and the United States, and the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, sponsored a landmark campaign against Antisemitism during the High-Level week of the General Assembly. Using a special photo and video booth, heads of delegations to the United Nations General Assembly had the opportunity to declare their clear and unequivocal condemnation of Antisemitism and to show their commitment to openly fight it. It was a powerful display of a strong leadership for a just cause. 

We will not defeat racism if we continue allow Antisemitism to thrive, for Antisemitism is a form of racism. As the canary bird of other forms of racism, the fight against antisemitism is the first step in pushing back the tide of racial prejudice, hate and discrimination. 

If we seek to counter racism worldwide, we must start by ripping it at its seams, layer by layer, overcoming its sub-forms of hate one by one.

Thank you.