WJC Officials Testify on Global Antisemitism at U.S. International Religious Freedom Commission Hearing

NEW YORK – At a virtual hearing held on Wednesday by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), WJC’s Head of Combating Antisemitism, Intelligence & Security Ernest Herzog, spotlighted the rising threat-level facing Jewish communities worldwide from emerging extremist groups and the organization’s work to confront it.

In his remarks, Herzog explained that “antisemitism is once again being used by extremist forces — Islamist movements, far-left ideologues, and far-right ethno-nationalists alike — to weaken liberal democracy.” He urged the U.S. government and other democracies to push European legislators to developing policies that protect Jewish life against extremist threats posed by Iranian terror proxies.

Herzog was joined by Executive Director of the Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia, Marcos Peckel, and Vice President of the Czech Federation of Jewish Communities, Emma Günsberger. They spoke alongside Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache, Vice President Europe, American Jewish Committee; Elliott Benjamin, Vice President, Iranian American Jewish Federation of Los Angeles; and David Saperstein, Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.

Peckel, who is a WJC Executive Committee Member and current serves as Commissioner for Combating Antisemtism with the Latin American Jewish Congress, highlighted Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s aggressive anti‑Israel stance and his government’s hostility toward the Jewish community locally.

Günsberger, who is a member of WJC's Jewish Diplomatic Academy, also addressed the rise of antisemitism in Central and Eastern Europe and its impact on Jewish communities since the October 7 terror attacks.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan U.S. body that monitors religious freedom worldwide and advises policymakers, serving as a key channel for elevating issues such as global antisemitism within U.S. foreign policy.