Two former US special envoys to monitor and combat anti-Semitism warn against the Trump administration refusing to fill that post, saying it would be “tragic” and a “terrible loss.”
Almost two weeks ago, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggested to a House of Representatives panel that hiring such an envoy wasn’t necessary and that the overall effort to combat anti-Semitism would be more efficacious without one.
Hannah Rosenthal and Ira Forman, who each held that post during the Obama administration, dispute Tillerson’s suggestion saying the job is symbolic, and more than just confronting racism.
“It’s not just what the office of the special envoy to monitoring and combating anti-Semitism does, although that’s critically important, but it’s the symbolism of US leadership,” says Forman, who held that position from 2013 to 2017. “This would be a terrible loss.”
— Eric Cortellessa
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 26, 2017
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