WH vows to fight ‘scourge’ of anti-Semitism

The Obama administration commits to stemming the “rising tide” of anti-Semitism, the White House chief of staff says.

“We will not waver in our commitment to defeat the scourge of anti-Semitism,” Denis McDonough says at an event Tuesday evening convened by the American Jewish Committee and Washington-area Jewish groups to show solidarity with France and its Jews after deadly attacks last week by Islamists.

“This is not an issue for any single community or nation to deal with by itself,” McDonough says at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington. “From the president on down, you have my commitment that we will wage this fight together.”

Also speaking at the Washington event, which drew 700 people, was the French ambassador to Washington, Gerard Araud.

“We are at war against terrorism, against radical Islam,” he says. “Journalists and Jews are on the front line of democracy.”

He also says that France was committed to protecting its Jewish population.

“We want the Jews of France to remain in France,” he says.

— JTA