The House passed legislation to strengthen the definition of antisemitism in federal civil-rights law over the objections of a strange-bedfellows contingent of left-wing Democrats and right-wing Republicans.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would require the Education Department to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism in enforcing anti-discrimination law, was approved 320-91 on Wednesday against a backdrop of rising anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment at universities.
“What is happening at Columbia, at Yale, at UCLA, and so many other schools, is reprehensible and alarming,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, New York Republican, the bill’s sponsor.
“When people engage in harassment or bullying of Jewish individuals where they justify the killing of Jews or use blood libel or hold Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government — that is antisemitic,” he said.
He said it was “unfortunate that needs to be clarified, but that’s why this bill is necessary.”
The IHRA definition was approved in 2016 by the 31-nation alliance in 2016. The U.S. is part of the alliance.
“We cannot stand idly by as protesters call for the death of Jews on college campuses and across the country,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey Democrat. “When I spoke at Columbia last week, I told administrators that we need deeds, not words to protect Jewish students. This bill is a critical step to take the action we so desperately need to stand against hate.”
The bill’s support was bipartisan — but so was the opposition.
Voting against H.R. 6090 were 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans from the opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, largely over concerns about free speech.
The “nay” votes included Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar on the one hand, and Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz on the other.
At issue were the 11 “contemporary examples” in the IHRA definition, which has been adopted by 45 nations, 36 U.S. states, and 91 municipalities, as well as the State Department.
Pro-Palestinian groups have taken issue with the contemporary example that says antisemitism may include: “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.”
That could include student groups calling for “intifada” or declaring that “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” both of which are common refrains at anti-Israel protests on college campuses.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, New York Democrat, warned that the bill would add “purely political speech about Israel into Title VI’s ambit,” although the IHRA definition says that criticism of Israel isn’t antisemitic unless it crosses a line.
“Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity,” said the IHRA definition. “However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
I’m proud that my bill, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, just passed the House of Representatives 320 to 91. This bill has broad, bipartisan support and will begin the process of cracking down on the antisemitism we’ve seen run rampant on college campuses across America. pic.twitter.com/1Dik83m5d0
— Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) May 1, 2024
Some Republicans who voted against the bill took issue with another contemporary example, the one that says antisemitism may include: “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”
As does AOC, your ignorance leads to antisemitic gibberish.
Jesus was 4 when Herod died. He was tried & convicted by Pontius Pilate — a Roman. He was executed horrifically as were 100K Jews — by Roman soldiers.
Jesus was a Judean Jew; IHRA would have protected, not punished him https://t.co/dMqmPThAtJ
— David Wurmser (@Wurmserscribit) May 2, 2024
Ms. Greene said the definition means Christians could be found guilty “for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.”
Holding Jews responsible for the death of Jesus is an increasingly fringe view among contemporary Christians.
The Roman Catholic Church officially repudiated the idea of collective Jewish guilt in 1965, and Pope Benedict XVI exonerated the Jewish people of Christ’s death in his 2011 book “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Republican, called it a “ridiculous hate-speech bill,” while Rep. Chip Roy, Texas Republican, cited procedural objections.
“The bill put before us today did not have a full committee hearing or a markup, which could have addressed some of the concerns many of my colleagues and I have with the potential implications of the underlying language,” Mr. Roy said in a statement.
Praising the bill’s passage were a host of Jewish groups, including the Combating Antisemitism Movement, which said that “this legislation is now more important than ever.”
“We urge Senator Schumer and his colleagues in the Senate to take swift action and pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act,” said CAM Board of Governors member Arie Lipnick. “The House Republicans have shown tremendous leadership in this fight, and now it is time for the Senate to do the same.”