ADL petitions State Department over empty anti-Semitism post

WASHINGTON — The Anti-Defamation League delivered a petition to the US State Department calling on US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to fill the position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism as quickly as possible.

As of Tuesday, when the petition was presented, the ADL had collected 4,830 signatures.

The envoy position, mandated by the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2004, has been vacant since the start of the Trump administration.

In the petition, the ADL highlights that, in addition to working with the State Department, the envoy is pivotal in “diminishing anti-Jewish hatred overseas.”

“We know firsthand that this role is critical to fighting anti-Semitism and it is vital that the United States continue to manifest its leadership in fighting hate around the world,” Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL’s CEO, said.

“And we are not alone. Thousands of Americans have signed our petition urging the State Department to act quickly to fill this essential diplomatic post.” Greenblatt said. “There’s simply no reason to postpone this decision for even one more day.”

In June, Tillerson said in testimony before Congress that the administration had yet to make a decision about whether the position would be filled at all.

Part of his argument against appointing a special envoy was that local State Department missions neglect their responsibility to confront the issue if there is a special office in Washington dedicated to combating anti-Semitism.

Two previous envoys, Hannah Rosenthal and Ira Forman, who each held the post during the Obama administration, have vigorously disputed Tillerson’s explanation and bemoaned the possible consequences if the office wasn’t filled.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.