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EMET APPLAUDS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S POSITION ON ANTI-SEMITISM AND ASKS THAT JEWISH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS FOLLOW HIS ADVICE
(Washington, D.C., May 20, 2020) While speaking on a call to donors, yesterday, Former Vice President Joe Biden had said, “Criticism of Israel’s policies is not anti-Semitism. But too often that criticism morphs into anti-Semitism.” He went on to state “Arguably, we haven’t heard enough about the Holocaust because people are still trying to deny its horrible reality. So many people forget. It’s almost hard to believe.”
In response to a question about anti-Semitism on the left, his words were, “We have to condemn it. And I’ve gotten into trouble for doing that. Whatever the source, right, left or center.”
EMET strongly applauds the Former Vice President Biden’s courageous position on calling out anti-Semitism, although we differ widely on his position about the Trump peace plan, and Israel’s need for defensible borders. We note that never before in history has a nation been attacked, defeated their foes in two victorious wars, and been sued to give up their land. Israel, the Jew among nations, is always held to a higher standard.
However, whenever we hear something positive and necessary that needs to be said, particularly when addressing the growing problem of anti-Semitism, within his own party, we feel the need to applaud it. According to the most recent ADL Report, more than half of American Jews (63%) have seen or witnessed some sort of anti-Semitism during the past 5 years, and 63% say they feel less safe.
That is why the presumptive democratic presidential nominee’s words are so necessary. Just last week, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib sent a highly anti-Semitic tweet when Jews throughout the world were celebrating Israeli Independence Day. As a reminder according to the U.S. government’s example of anti-Semitism, “denial of the Jewish people of their right to self-determination” is one definition of anti-Semitism.
Congresswoman Tlaib’s tweet stated:
“Today, Palestinians around the world commemorate the Nakba (النكبة), Arabic for ‘catastrophe’ recognizing the ethnic cleansing of indigenous Palestine. ~530 Palestinian neighborhoods were uprooted + destroyed +750,000 Palestinians became refugees.”
This is anti-Semitism coming directly out of the mouth of a US Congresswoman. In response to this, on May 19th, Benjamin Weil, the Director of EMET’s Project for Israel’s National Security sent an email to 5 Congressional Jewish leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Chairman Eliot Engel, Chairman Jerrold Nadler, Chairwoman Nita Lowey and Congressman Ted Deutch. It stated:
In a tweet from May 15, the anniversary of Israel’s independence, Rep. Rashida Tlaib accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing. We find her tweet highly biased and believe she should be brought under censure and public rebuke for such an inflammatory one-sided view. Since the creation of the State of Israel, Israeli-Arabs have played key roles in the forming of modern Israel; served as ministers in the government, Supreme Court justices, played on Israel’s national sports teams, served as mayors of cities, and as doctors. Rep. Tlaib’s remarks of calling the creation of the State of Israel a catastrophe is anti-Semitic... Rep. Tlaib has consistently been abusing her perch to spread hate through her racist anti-Semitic remarks.
Says EMET Founder and President, Sarah Stern, “Why are our American Jewish Congressional leaders the new “Jews of Silence”? They should not be standing idly by when one of their colleagues makes a highly anti-Semitic comment that demonizes Jews or the state of Israel, and that totally distorts our people’s proud history. If a member of Congress were to make a racist statement, the Black Congressional Caucus would immediately call for his or her censor and public rebuke. Vice-president Joe Biden is correct. Comfortable or not, they should call out their colleague for her distorted and highly anti-Semitic tweets. We are watching a slippery slope where there has been a gradual erosion of the taboos against anti-Semitism, and it has now found its way into polite society, including in the chambers of Congress. Not to say something against it, gives a tacit, silent seal of approval that this sort of highly inflammatory language against the state of Israel and the Jewish people is acceptable.”
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