In case you missed it, this past Saturday, February 25th, was declared a
“day of hate” by white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups. In this
week’s Action Update, we analyze the hatred espoused by these bigots
as well as the violent antisemitism perpetrated by Palestinian
terrorists.

**Day of Unity**

In Genesis (50:20) it is written, “And as for you, ye meant evil
against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass....” This past
February 25th we witnessed that promise in action.  Despite plans for
the so-called Nazi “day of hate,” thank God, no violence was
reported against our Jewish brothers and sisters.

Moreover, Jewish communities around the country came together in unity
and love. They answered the darkness with light. A statement released by
the Anti-Defamation League noted, “In the face of threats and rising
antisemitism, the American Jewish community was not cowed. We were
defiant. We lit Shabbat candles, attended services, and proudly
celebrated our faith.”

Defiance in the face of hatred is the responsibility of every
conscientious person. We all have a role to play in the battle between
good and evil. And as long as we remember God’s promises and abide by
His divine mandate, we will prevail.

**Pushing Back Against the Hate**

In the days leading up to February 25th, we saw two states advance
legislation codifying the International Holocaust Remembrance
Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

In Virginia, after efforts by CUFI in conjunction with the Jewish
Community, the Senate and House advanced legislation codifying the IHRA
definition with widespread bipartisan support. Marking the bill’s
passage, Governor Youngkin said, “Hate has no place in the
Commonwealth and I’m proud to take continued steps to fight
antisemitism.” As always, we thank those of you who answer the call
when CUFI issues action alerts, these successes are not possible without
your continued engagement.

In Georgia, following a letter from CUFI’s Co-executive director and
State Director, an IHRA definition codification bill passed out of the
House Judiciary Committee where it had been held up for some time.

These bills, and the overall effort to advance the IHRA definition at
the state level, are vital to combating antisemitism as one cannot
defeat that which they will not define. Moreover, President Trump’s
2019 executive order combatting antisemitism - which President Biden has
sustained - uses the IHRA definition as its foundation.

Sometimes the states lead and other times it’s the federal government
that takes the first step, but in either case, we are stronger when the
states and Washington are in lockstep, and on the issue of what is
antisemitism and the need to combat it, that is exactly what is taking
place.

**Palestinian Hate**

** **

2022 was a challenging year for Israeli security forces. In total,
during the year 5,326 terror attacks were committed by Palestinian
terrorists. Of these, 513 involved throwing grenades or Molotov
cocktails with an additional 111 being explosive attacks of a different
kind. 173 were shootings and nearly 1,000 were rocket, mortar, or
similar attacks. In sum, Palestinians engaged in 14-15 attacks on
Israelis each day last year. As a result, 31 people were killed and 415
were injured.

Americans and Israelis agree on a lot, but at the foundation of the
relationship is the belief that human life has inherent value. That
means that every lost innocent life is an immeasurable tragedy. We mourn
the 31 innocent people murdered by Palestinian terrorists. And we thank
God for the bravery and determination of the Israeli military, police,
intelligence, and security forces that prevented the massive loss of
life that would’ve occurred had Palestinian terrorists had their way.
But our mandate for action does not end there.

We must continue to fight. We must ensure Israel has the means to defend
her citizens and the political space in which to operate. We must stand
up to antisemites of all stripes, be they neo-Nazis or violent radical
Islamic extremists. And that is what we at the Action Fund will continue
to do, thanks to your support and God’s favor.

Sincerely,

The CUFI Action Fund Team <https:[link removed]>

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CUFI Action Fund, 300 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States