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This Week:

• Confronting Antisemitism on the Right
• The "Genocide" Lie Comes to Capitol Hill
• RJC Speaks Out
• CAIR Under Scrutiny
• Short Takes
• Week's Best Tweets
• Upcoming Events

Confronting Antisemitism on the Right

In a recent column for the Washington Post, Marc A. Thiessen writes:

If there is a silver lining to the recent uproar over antisemitism on the right, it is this:

The pushback has been inspiring.

While the number of voices willing to defend or excuse Tucker Carlson's softball interview with self-professed "Team Hitler" member Nick Fuentes has been shocking, it has been even more heartening to see how many on the right have spoken out and even given up their jobs to prevent the virus of antisemitism from entering the conservative mainstream.

Which raises a question: Where is this pushback against antisemitism on the left?

…Had we seen the same resistance to antisemitism on the left that we do on the right today, there would be no Squad on Capitol Hill, no Mayor [Zohran] Mamdani and no pro-Hamas turmoil at elite universities. Unlike the left, conservatives have until now effectively policed our movement, containing the contagion of antisemitism to the fever swamps of the alt-right. If we ever stop doing so, we'll end up like the Democrats today — captured and cowed by the antisemites they welcomed into their coalition out of political expediency.

…If we want to persuade the American people to support our cause, then we need to be clear about what conservatism stands for — and what it does not. That requires we keep out Nazis, along with their enablers. These cranks want to hijack the MAGA movement for their own vile purposes. We need to stop them from doing so.

One example of a principled, outspoken opponent of antisemitism is Pastor John Hagee, the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel. Pastor Hagee is a committed friend to Israel and the Jewish people.

In an op-ed about antisemitism for the Washington Reporter, Pastor Hagee writes:

Regardless of who the bigot may be, and whether they are declaring hatred for millions of Christian Zionists, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "duping" President Donald Trump into bombing Iran, accusing Israel of killing J.F.K., and/or Charlie Kirk, and/or implying that Hitler wasn't as bad as we think — there are evil elements on the right who've discovered what many Democrats on the formerly fringe left have known for some time: there is both cash and cache in attacking Israel and her people.

… God said that He will treat the nations, this includes our own, as they treat Israel. As such, only damnation awaits the antisemite. For if we fail to stop this evil, the United States will no longer enjoy the favor of God. Fundamentally immoral countries never do, and if antisemitism continues to be tolerated and mainstreamed on the right, after it has already inundated the left, then that is what America will become.

Antisemitism is categorically and fundamentally anti-Christian… People of faith and conscience cannot allow the same spirit that flowed through Haman and Hitler to corrupt and corrode the soul of the GOP. Whether it is in our communities, in our churches, on college campuses, or in Congress, antisemitism in our society must be confronted at every turn.

Another prominent conservative speaking out on this issue is Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), who writes in an op-ed for The Dallas Morning News:

The recent resurgence of antisemitism, the world’s oldest form of hate, is an existential threat to the values that we hold dear. Judging a person by their race, ethnicity, or religion runs directly counter to what the founders of our country intended and undermines the very foundation of our constitutional republic.

… Support for the Jewish people and for Israel was once a bipartisan consensus, but as the left has increasingly turned its back on our Jewish friends, Republicans have taken on the mantle of defending Israel and the Jews against the rising tide of hatred. While these fringe ideas first began to find a home in the progressive left, there is an alarming emergence among self-styled conservatives as well.

… Now is not the time to waver. Now is the time to speak the truth with clarity and conviction, and to condemn these un-American and anti-conservative ideas for what they are.

Our Jewish friends are facing increasingly hostile environments around the world, and sadly, now, in America as well. Many in the Democrat Party have remained silent or openly embraced those who profess antisemitism within their ranks. The Republicans cannot and will not do the same. There are times in politics that require moral clarity, and defending the inherent dignity of every human person is one of them.

The "Genocide" Lie Comes to Capitol Hill

The Jewish Insider reports that last Friday, 21 House progressives, led by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), introduced a resolution accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

The resolution's sponsors include: Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT), Andre Carson (D-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Al Green (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).

The Jewish Insider report continues:

The resolution is backed by a slew of anti-Israel groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow, the Quincy Institute, Sunrise Movement, Amnesty International, Code Pink, CAIR, American Muslims for Palestine, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and DAWN.

The resolution asserts that "the overwhelming evidence is clear that the State of Israel has committed acts (actus reus) within the scope of the Genocide Convention against Palestinians in Gaza."

It states that the US must "prevent and punish the crime of genocide wherever it occurs," and must therefore halt the transfer of any weapons or equipment to Israel, impose sanctions on Israel and individuals and companies involved in "facilitating the commission of genocide or incitement to commit genocide," support efforts at the United Nations to punish Israel, cooperate with the International Criminal Court's investigation of Israel and lift sanctions on the ICC, enforce the International Court of Justice's decisions against Israel and ensure funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency — which was halted following findings that UNRWA employees participated in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

It also states that the US should "ensur[e] that individuals and corporations in the United States and within United States jurisdiction are not involved in the commission of genocide, aiding and assisting the commission of genocide, or incitement to commit genocide, and investigat[e] and prosecut[e] those who may be implicated in these crimes under international law."

RJC Speaks Out

The RJC has responded this week to questions about antisemitism on the right and about President Donald Trump's stance on antisemitism. Our answers have been clear and unequivocal.

Washington Post:

“I don’t think President Trump during his first or second term could be acting more strongly to prevent antisemitism,” said Matthew Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. He noted Trump’s first-term relocation of the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and, more recently, the president’s handling of the war in Gaza.

…The recent annual summit of the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas was similarly focused on condemning antisemitism within the party, a shift from the original plans to celebrate the ceasefire in Gaza and the return of Hamas-held hostages.

Brooks said at the time, “We are at this point in what I consider sort of the early stages of an undeclared civil war within the Republican Party, as it relates to Israel, and antisemitism and the Jewish community.”

“And it’s really going to be our challenge going forward to combat that before it has a chance to grow and metastasize in the Republican Party,” Brooks said.

During one part of the conference, college students waved red signs that read, “Tucker is not MAGA.”

Jewish Insider:

"It's a ridiculous conversation to be having, because nobody should doubt where the president stands on this," Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks told Jewish Insider on Monday. "Donald Trump has zero tolerance when it comes to antisemitism."

New York Times:

"At best, I'd say [Tucker Carlson is] antisemitic-adjacent," said Matthew Brooks, the chief executive of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

…Mr. Brooks of the Republican Jewish Coalition compared what he called "the fawning way'' that Mr. Carlson handled Mr. [Nick] Fuentes with his openly hostile interview of Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican, the month before. The two argued over Israel, Russia and the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. Mr. Cruz wondered aloud about Mr. Carlson's "obsession with Israel," causing Mr. Carlson to respond that the senator was accusing him of antisemitism "in a sleazy, feline way."

The Free Press:

Matt Brooks, the CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, which works to elect pro-Israel Republicans, had a stern warning for any members of the GOP who might be interested in aligning with Fuentes's group. "Given Nick Fuentes's long and vile history of bigotry, antisemitism, racism, and misogyny—in addition to being anti-Trump and anti-Vance—any candidate that takes Fuentes's support will be answerable for it during the campaign," Brooks told us.

CAIR Under Scrutiny

Jewish Insider reports:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a declaration on Tuesday designating the Muslim Brotherhood and Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist groups and transnational criminal organizations — a move that some lawmakers are pushing on the federal level.

The proclamation would ban both groups from buying or acquiring land in the state and allow the state's attorney general to sue to shut down the two groups, and potentially impose fines on those involved.

…The proclamation describes CAIR as a "successor organization" to the Muslim Brotherhood and an effective front group for Hamas in the United States and accuses the group of seeking to spread Sharia law in the country by infiltrating public office and other areas of public life.

The New York Post reports:

Anti-Israel agitators who spread disruption at US colleges and were punished by authorities were awarded checks for $1,000 by a Muslim nonprofit, The Post has learned.

The money was given to students who faced penalties for leading pro-Palestinian protests before and after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to a bombshell report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and the Intelligent Advocacy Network (IAN).

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Short Takes

Thiessen: Trump built a winning coalition. White nationalists will destroy it.

Tucker Carlson’s effort to bring neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes into the mainstream of the conservative movement is not only morally reprehensible, it is a path to political suicide for the right. Those defending or excusing Carlson’s sane-washing of Fuentes need to ask themselves a simple question: Do they want to be a majoritarian movement or not?

...[Pres. Donald Trump] also gained 11 points among Jewish voters — jumping from 24 percent in 2016 to 35 percent in 2024. According to the Republican Jewish Coalition, 31 percent of Jewish voters now identify as Republicans, the highest percentage on record.

...Trump’s 2024 coalition was significantly more racially and ethnically diverse than it had been in 2020 or 2016. Indeed, Trump increased his support in almost every key demographic. That’s why he went from losing the popular vote in 2016 and 2020 to winning it in 2024.

A normal political movement would celebrate this success and try to build on it. Instead, some on the right seem intent on driving away these new voters by tolerating or even embracing White nationalists. That is both repulsive and insane.

JNS: Trump nominee Kaploun promotes education as key to fighting Jew-hatred

The RJC supports the nomination of Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun to be US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. JNS reports that in his Senate nomination hearing on Wednesday, Rabbi Kaploun said: "We must educate, educate, educate about the history of the Jewish community in America and the Judeo-Christian values our country was founded on. Antisemitism is anti-American. Those who chant 'death to the Jews' all too often chant 'death to America.'"

National Review: Nearly 20 Percent of Senate Democrats Are Thinking of Running for President in 2028
Talk about a crowded field: Jim Geraghty at National Review does the math and writes that nine of the 47 Democrats in the Senate have expressed interest or allowed the media to speculate about their interest in a presidential run in 2028.

Times of Israel: Despite promised reforms, PA textbooks still teach antisemitic, anti-Israel messages

Palestinian Authority textbooks continue to glorify terror, demonize Israelis, traffic in antisemitic themes and advance exclusivist nationalist rhetoric despite promises to implement reforms, a comprehensive study of the authority's teaching materials has found.

The report was released on Wednesday by the Israel- and UK-based IMPACT-SE watchdog, which monitors educational content. It alleges that textbooks from grades 1-4 and 12, meant to be updated recently to comply with international demands to scrub inciting content, in fact contain no significant changes.

See also: Jerusalem Post: One fifth of PA newspaper op-eds push antisemitic content, JPPI study finds

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