Anti-Semitism Rising Around the Globe

At a time when instances of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial are on the rise, the U.S. State Department has appointed a former Jewish businessman as special envoy to monitor and combat the epidemic around the globe.

Ira Forman, former CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, has been installed as the State Department seeks to improve worldwide levels of racial tolerance. Forman replaces Michael Kozak, who has served in the role on an interim basis over the last year.

Forman’s first-order-of-business would seem addressing a 2012 outbreak of anti-Semitic acts perpetrated by government officials in such distinct places as Venezuela, Egypt and Iran, some of which ended in acts of desecration and even violence.

"When political leaders condoned anti-Semitism, it set the tone for its persistence and growth in countries around the world," state officials said in an official report.

The report goes on to recount varying specific acts of such behavior in each of the regions outlined. In Venezuela, it points out government-controlled media published numerous anti-Semitic statements, particularly in regard to opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, a Catholic with Jewish ancestors.

In Egypt, anti-Semitic sentiment in the media was even more widespread, literally rising to the point of Holocaust denial and even glorification in some instances. As an example, the report cited an Oct. 19 incident in which Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi said "Amen" after a religious leader stated, "Oh Allah, destroy the Jews and their supporters."

The Iranian government regularly vilified Judaism, and vandals in Ukraine desecrated several Holocaust memorials, the report said. Vandals in Russia painted a swastika on a fence at a St. Petersburg synagogue and on a synagogue wall in Irkutsk.

"Even well into the 21st century, traditional forms of anti-Semitism, such as conspiracy theories, use of the discredited myth of "blood libel" and cartoons demonizing Jews continued to flourish," the report said.

Newly appointed Secretary of State John Kerry deemed the report a "clear-eyed, objective look at the state of religious freedom around the world," and said that in some cases the report "does directly call out some of our close friends, as well as some countries with whom we seek stronger ties."

Kerry called the report an attempt to make progress around the world, "even though we know that it may cause some discomfort." He urged countries identified in the report to take action to safeguard religious freedoms.

"Governments around the globe continue to detain, imprison, torture and even kill people for their religious beliefs," he said. "In too many places, governments are also failing to protect minorities from social discrimination and violence" against religious groups including Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Christians, Muslims and Sikhs.”