The World Jewish Congress North America hosted United States Congressman Ted Deutch and Canadian Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather for an in-depth discussion on the rise of antisemitism and the importance of Holocaust remembrance.
The conversation opened with a discussion of Congressman Deutch and MP Housefather’s decision to join the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Anti-Semitism. Deutch commented that there is no longer a clear distinction between antisemitism online and antisemitism on the streets, and therefore the fight requires a “global solution.” Deutch elaborated on several of the issues he hopes the task force will tackle, namely, the consistent antisemitic content featured on TikTok, Twitter's refusal to flag antisemitic tweets from the Supreme Leader of Iran, and Facebook and Google's defense of antisemitic rhetoric and images on their website.
Housefather agreed with Deutch, adding that the task force isn't meant to replace advocacy groups, but empower legislators to combat antisemitism. Housefather noted that if countries can implement a "consistent framework" of online regulations against antisemitism, legislators will be more successful in combating antisemitism. The task force, Housefather added, does not intend to censor speech, but empower social media organizations to be consistent in flagging and objecting to antisemitic content.
Housefather noted that the Task Force will have a bipartisan approach, adding is not a Democratic issue or Republican issue, a liberal issue or conservative issue. Every one of the countries that we are represented in we've ensured that we have people on all sides of the aisle to make sure that we're attacking this from both the left and the right.”
The conversation also touched on Israel’s recent normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan. Deutch said he was uncertain how “those who boycott the Jewish state of Israel because it is the only Jewish state of the world,” would respond to Abraham Accords, but he expects Israel’s diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan to continue to progress.
The conversation concluded with a discussion about antisemitism on campus and the lack of Holocaust knowledge among students, with both lawmakers agreeing that more should be done in these fields. Deutch remarked that the way BDS is often used on campus “[antisemitism] is not a free speech issue,” adding “there are students who are fearful to walk across the central lawn and the quad.... There are those who are afraid to wear a Jewish star or keep up because they're afraid of what's going to be hurled at them verbally.”
Housefather described recent polling highlighting lack of Holocaust knowledge as a "damning indictment on our education system.” He said that ensuring students are educated about the Holocaust isn’t only a moral issue, but a “national security issue,” explaining, “If we fail to remember the Holocaust, we're creating a situation where hatred antisemitism and broader hatred can lead to terrible results.”
