Biden Admin Launches Inter-Agency Group Against Antisemitism

The Biden administration announced on December 12 that they are launching an inter-agency group to fight antisemitism.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the group will consist of staff from the National Security Council and Domestic Policy Council to lead efforts “to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia, and related forms of bias and discrimination within the United States.” “The President has tasked the inter-agency group, as its first order of business, to develop a national strategy to counter antisemitism,” Jean-Pierre said. “This strategy will raise understanding about antisemitism and the threat it poses to the Jewish community and all Americans, address antisemitic harassment and abuse both online and offline, seek to prevent antisemitic attacks and incidents, and encourage whole-of-society efforts to counter antisemitism and build a more inclusive nation.”

Jewish groups praised the Biden administration. “We welcome the Biden Administration’s announcement that they are forming a new interagency group to develop a national strategy to combat antisemitism and other forms of hate,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement. “This is one of the steps that we have long advocated for as part of a holistic approach to address the antisemitism has been increasingly normalized in society. We stand ready to lend our expertise and support to assist in the formation of this important national strategy.”

The American Jewish Committee similarly thanked Biden in a statement and said that they are “ready to help the Biden administration develop a national strategy to combat antisemitism.” “Anti-Jewish incidents have risen to alarming levels all over the U.S. All must stand together against this hatred and continuously condemn it. A whole-of-government approach is essential so government agencies can quickly and effectively combat the world’s oldest hatred as it morphs into contemporary forms.”

We are glad to have raised this with @SecondGentleman and thrilled President Biden moved forward so quickly.

Our full statement: 👇 pic.twitter.com/DDYReQTmve

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) December 12, 2022

B’nai Brith International also commended the Biden administration “for facilitating better coordination of U.S. gov. efforts to counter anti-Semitism.”

At the urging of lawmakers and Jewish orgs. including B'nai B'rith, the Biden admin. has established an Inter-Agency Group to Counter #Antisemitism. We commend @POTUS Biden for facilitating better coordination of U.S. gov. efforts to counter anti-Semitism. https://t.co/mOQw5sfjhE

— B'nai B'rith Intl. (@BnaiBrith) December 13, 2022

J Street said in a statement that their recent polling data showed that “76% of Jewish-American voters believe that Trump and his MAGA movement allies are responsible for a rise in antisemitism.” “We appreciate that the Administration is treating the issue of antisemitism and other interrelated forms of bigotry with the seriousness and urgency that it merits, and that the Administration recognizes that antisemitism must be understood and confronted alongside the general phenomenon of rising white supremacy and discrimination against our fellow vulnerable minorities,” J Street’s statement read.

Stop Antisemitism, however, noted in a couple of tweets that Biden recently posed for photos with Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). “Embracing antisemites like Rashida Tlaib & Ilhan Omar is the opposite of fighting antisemitism. Jew haters must be shunned, not posed with,” Stop Antisemitism tweeted. “Without meaningful action, words and proclamations are fruitless.”

Amid a surge in hateful rhetoric and violence against Jews, President Biden formed a new interagency group to develop a national strategy to combat antisemitism.

A few days prior he posed for a holiday photo with antisemite Ilhan Omar.

Make this make sense. pic.twitter.com/weZ5FdUUyf

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 13, 2022

Embracing antisemites like Rashida Tlaib & Ilhan Omar is the opposite of fighting antisemitism.

Jew haters must be shunned, not posed with.

Without meaningful action, words and proclamations are fruitless @K_JeanPierre

cc: @POTUS @ShelleyGspan @SecondGentleman pic.twitter.com/OqHSjDt4LV

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 13, 2022

Journal columnist Blake Flayton accused the Biden administration of “all lives mattering antisemitism” in Jean-Pierre’s statement. “You are better than condemning Islamophobia in a specific statement on the rise of antisemitism as if to imply that the Jewish community bears blame as well,” Flayton tweeted. “Disappointing.”

Biden administration: you are better than this. You are better than all lives mattering antisemitism. You are better than condemning Islamophobia in a specific statement on the rise of antisemitism as if to imply that the Jewish community bears blame as well. Disappointing. pic.twitter.com/WV7JiNZyPI

— Blake Flayton (@blakeflayton) December 13, 2022