Washington Jewish Week - 07.17.2003

 

 

 

The Washington Jewish Week

INSIDE THE BELTWAY

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Monitoring anti-Semitism

NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia is welcoming Senate passage of an amendment last week that will require the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom to include a section on anti-Semitism.

Sponsored by Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), the legislation is part of the bill authorizing 2004 appropriations for the State Department and other international programs, which is expected to be voted on this week.

NCSJ president Joel Schindler noted that the new requirement will "further empower [American diplomats] to sensitize foreign governments on the issue of anti-Semitism and to recognize those nations that are taking serious steps rather than ignoring the persistence of this ancient bigotry."