US must not let up in fight against global anti-Semitism

Recent remarks by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in testimony before Congress indicated that the administration has not yet made a decision about whether to fill the position of special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism at the State Department.

In order to continue fighting the rise in global anti-Semitism, it is critical that our government allocates the appropriate resources and demonstrates ongoing leadership on the world stage, and that begins with the key appointment to fill the special envoy role.

Under questioning, Tillerson’s response about the future of the office under his tenure was vague. While he recognized statutory requirements to maintain the envoy, he also said that he and his staff “have not made a decision about this particular special envoy” and suggested that they were taking a pause, “until we know this is the best way to deliver.”

We’ve since learned that two part-time staffers in that office are being reassigned as of July 1 — meaning that for the first time in 13 years since the position was established, the office of Special Envoy will be completely vacant, with no leadership or staff to speak of.

{mosads}We believe the State Department is making a big mistake in not re-assigning these positions and putting off the decision on an appointment of special envoy to monitor anti-Semitism. We urge the secretary to commit to filling this post as rapidly as possible.

We know firsthand from working intimately with every prior envoy who had served in this very important role the tremendously positive and effectual outcomes that have been accomplished through diplomacy by these envoys.

Not only is it the law of the land — passed in 2004 by former President George W. Bush — but it has bipartisan congressional support, a rare thing these days, and would send a forceful message to governments and Jewish communities globally that America will continue to lead on matters of human and civil rights as it has for the last seven decades.

We know there is broad public support, both within and outside of the Jewish community, for the position to be filled, so that the nation’s diplomatic work countering global anti-Semitism may continue uninterrupted.

It is hard to understand why Tillerson has put off a decision on this vitally important function at the State Department.

America has led the way in responding to anti-Semitism in the 21^st century: Pressuring the OSCE to organize conferences on anti-Semitism in Europe; working with the international community to promote Holocaust education; and speaking out against violence toward Jews and refused to accept rationalizations that it was all about the Middle East conflict and not Jew-hatred.

The establishment of this special envoy position within the U.S. State Department, whose sole mandate was to monitor the state of anti-Semitism around the world and to formulate approaches to counter that phenomenon, is remarkable.

This was classic American leadership at work.

The threats to Jews around the world have not diminished and, if anything, they are seen as increasing in certain countries. France, Hungary, and Venezuela are among the many places where Jews continue to be targeted.

As the three previous envoys have noted, the office has been an important vehicle to ensure conversation on and attention to anti-Semitism.

When specific issues arise, such as in Hungary, when the government was considering erecting a statue of a collaborator with the Nazis, the intervention of the special envoy can be critical.

The interactions between the envoy and Jewish community representatives around the world lend an immeasurable element of moral and psychological support to those communities.

For us, it seems like a no-brainer: Not a single day goes by when we see new manifestations of the world’s oldest hatred around the world.

America’s voice is desperately needed now.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt is CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.