US lawmakers condemn antisemitic attacks against backdrop of Gaza violence

US Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), two founding co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, and Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK), co-founders and co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, condemn the uptick in antisemitic attacks, which have been committed by largely pro-Palestinian activists against the backdrop of violence in Gaza.

“As co-chairs of the bipartisan congressional task forces for combating antisemitism, we are alarmed and deeply concerned by the growing number of antisemitic incidents in the United States, Canada and across Europe related to the current violence in the Middle East.”

“These disturbing incidents include individuals in London calling for Jewish ‘daughters to be raped,’ a German synagogue being pelted with rocks, an attack on Jewish diners in Los Angeles, fireworks hurled at a crowd in New York City, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent invocation of the blood libel myth—among far too many others.”

“We call on elected officials, faith leaders and civil society leaders to join us in speaking out against this antisemitic hate, now and always,” the lawmakers say.