US Congress passes anti-Semitism bill

A bill to create a special office within the US State Department to monitor international anti-Semitism has passed its parliamentary hurdle. The "Global Anti-Semitism Awareness/Review Act" was approved by the House of Representatives on Sunday, five months after the Senate gave its approval. The bill, which now requires approval by the US president, requires the State Department to create an office to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, and to file a report on anti-Jewish incidents around the world. The government also would be required to include information about such acts in its annual reports on human rights practices and international religious freedom. The State Department opposed the legislation, suggesting it would show favoritism toward the Jewish community in human rights reporting.