US lawmakers turn attention to safety of European Jews

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan slate of members of the US House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Obama administration to press European security authorities to partner with Jewish communities.

The non-binding resolution introduced Thursday calls on European governments and umbrella bodies like the European Union to “formally recognize, partner with and train Jewish community groups focused on strengthening preparedness, mitigation and response related to anti-Semitic attacks.”

It notes spikes in anti-Semitic attacks in recent years and praises the efficacy of partnerships between law enforcement and Jewish communities in the United States, Britain and France. The legislation comes six months after four Jews were killed in an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, and five months after a Jewish guard was shot dead outside a synagogue in Copenhagen.

Law enforcement in Europe, the resolution says, should help Jewish communities develop standards that “focus on preparedness, mitigation and response, including for training, controlling access to physical facilities, physical security measures, crisis communications, emergency exercises and simulations, mapping access to facilities, and sharing of information with law enforcement agencies.”

The bill was introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission, the congressional body that monitors compliance with human rights overseas.

Joining him in co-sponsoring the resolution were his co-chairmen of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Kay Granger (R-TX), Steve Israel (D-NY) and Peter Roskam (R-IL).