Amid escalating antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the United States, the House of Representatives has taken a bold and decisive stand against hatred by passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA). In a remarkable display of bipartisanship, the measure passed with a landslide 320-91 vote, underscoring the urgency of tackling this critical issue.
The AAA mandates that the Department of Education adopts the broad definition of antisemitism established by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an intergovernmental organization. This move aims to create a clear and comprehensive framework to identify and address antisemitic incidents, particularly in educational settings.
#BREAKING: The US House of Representatives has passed the antisemitism resolution, which seeks to codify @TheIHRA definition of antisemitism in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1956 for the @usedgov to use to enforce anti-discrimination laws. pic.twitter.com/VQmckYDy84
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) May 1, 2024
Nathan Diament, Executive Director of Public Policy at the Orthodox Union, hailed the AAA as a crucial step towards restoring order on American campuses. Diament commended Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) for their bipartisan leadership in advancing the bill, urging the Senate to act swiftly to enshrine these protections into law.
Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States, echoed this sentiment, applauding the passage of the AAA. "The House’s approval of this bill marks a significant milestone in our ongoing battle against antisemitism," stated a CUFI spokesperson, emphasizing the need to combat hatred, particularly in academic settings.
At long last, the US House accepts @TheIHRA definition of #Antisemitism to protect American Jews from persecution. Whether it will have teeth to stop bad actors from targeting Jews remains to be seen, but it’s a good start. The Senate must pass the bill.https://t.co/Y7W2kiSmEY
— Daniel Sadan (@RealDanSadan) May 1, 2024
In parallel, Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means Committees, returned from a significant trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Schneider discussed the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, including the situation in Gaza and the evolving dynamics of Saudi-Israeli relations. He expressed optimism about a potential new era of cooperation in the region, reflecting a growing willingness among leaders to embrace a positive direction for the Middle East.
Despite the bill’s strong passage in the House, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) indicated that the Senate has not yet seen the House's proposal. However, with the support of key figures such as Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY), the bill has garnered substantial backing from both parties, particularly among moderate Democrats.
Lawler's passionate floor speech emphasized the need for immediate action. "In every generation, the Jewish people have been scapegoated, harassed, evicted from their homeland, and murdered," he declared, stressing the urgency of standing against antisemitism. "The Jewish people need our support now."
Calls for concrete action extend beyond legislation alone. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), co-author of the AAA, reiterated the need for deeds, not words, to protect Jewish students, particularly amid rising pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses.
Yet, the bill faces opposition from some progressive and far-right lawmakers, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, which criticizes its definition of antisemitism as "overbroad." In a letter urging lawmakers to oppose the measure, ACLU leaders argued that criticism of any government, including Israel, should not constitute harassment in itself. Others argue that the bill outlaws certain biblical passages, specifically ones that claim Jews killed Jesus or the many passages within the 'Banai Israel' chapter of the Quran which is wildly anti Jewish in its core.
⚡️ Antisemitism Awareness Act passes the 🇺🇸 US House of Representatives 320 votes for and 91 against
— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) May 2, 2024
This act proposes to make you a criminal if you say Jesus got killed by Jews, or if you discuss what is said about Jews in the Quran
However, Zionists have the right to discuss… pic.twitter.com/TqKekvlaeC
Nonetheless, the passage of the AAA in the House marks a significant step towards combating antisemitism and restoring order on American college campuses, reflecting a bipartisan commitment to confront hate in all its forms.
