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| President Donald Trump speaking at the Israeli-American Council National Summit, December 7, 2019. Photo by Noam Galai/Courtesy IAC. |
By Jackson Richman
Jewish News Syndicate
The measure is particularly focused on activities on American college campuses, where the anti-Israel BDS movement has taken a hold among students and even faculty.
It would require the U.S. Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism in evaluating such incidents on college campuses and at other educational institutions in accordance with the landmark Title VI, enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities that receive federally financial assistance. Religion was not included among the protected categories.
Jewish and pro-Israel groups applauded the expected move.
“It will have an immediate impact on U.S. campuses plagued with anti-Semitic and extreme anti-Israel acts, where many university officials complained that the lack of a working definition of anti-Semitism hampered efforts to deal with anti-Semitic incidents on campus,” said Simon Wiesenthal Center associate dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper in a statement. “Now, through this Executive Order, necessitated by Congress’ failure to pass legislation, university officials and Jewish students will be better equipped to deal hate attacks often associated with the anti-Israel BDS campaigns.”
“More broadly, President Trump’s Executive Order sends a strong message domestically and around the world against history’s oldest hate at a time of surging anti-Semitism on both sides of the Atlantic,” he added.
The Republican Jewish Coalition hailed the upcoming move as a “historic and important moment.”
“This is a truly historic and important moment for Jewish Americans,” said RJC national chairman and former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman in a statement. “President Trump has extended to Jewish students very strong, meaningful legal protection from anti-Semitic discrimination.”
At the Israeli-American Council’s annual summit on Saturday, Trump addressed the issue of anti-Semitism, which he called a “vile poison.”
“My administration is committed to aggressively challenging and confronting anti-Semitic bigotry in every resource, and using every single weapon at our disposal,” he said.
Jewish and pro-Israel groups applauded the expected move.
“It will have an immediate impact on U.S. campuses plagued with anti-Semitic and extreme anti-Israel acts, where many university officials complained that the lack of a working definition of anti-Semitism hampered efforts to deal with anti-Semitic incidents on campus,” said Simon Wiesenthal Center associate dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper in a statement. “Now, through this Executive Order, necessitated by Congress’ failure to pass legislation, university officials and Jewish students will be better equipped to deal hate attacks often associated with the anti-Israel BDS campaigns.”
“More broadly, President Trump’s Executive Order sends a strong message domestically and around the world against history’s oldest hate at a time of surging anti-Semitism on both sides of the Atlantic,” he added.
The Republican Jewish Coalition hailed the upcoming move as a “historic and important moment.”
“This is a truly historic and important moment for Jewish Americans,” said RJC national chairman and former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman in a statement. “President Trump has extended to Jewish students very strong, meaningful legal protection from anti-Semitic discrimination.”
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