U.S. State Department Report Explores Global Efforts in the Fight Against Antisemitism

Ten days before Palestinian militants attacked Israel on October 7, threatening a Middle East conflict all but certain to further stoke anti-Jewish sentiment, the U.S. State Department—almost as if anticipating the unthinkable Holy Land horrors—released a report on global initiatives to combat antisemitism.  

Titled “Report on Policies, Programs, and Actions Across the Globe to Combat Antisemitism,” the September 27 report pinpoints more than 40 measures and strategies across various countries aimed at fighting antisemitism.  

Featuring an “Index of Programs” as a focal point, the report provides a comprehensive overview of law enforcement efforts and hate crime prosecutions; the establishment of multi-faith and intercommunal coalitions; the fight against online hate; and educational initiatives addressing antisemitism. 

Taking a broad perspective on those endeavors, the report, issued by the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, recognizes overarching themes that span across different cities, nations, entities, and international organizations. 

The report starts out by acknowledging that in May 2023, the U.S. government unveiled the inaugural U.S. National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism, an initiative consisting of more than 100 measures designed to tackle the increasing prevalence of antisemitism within the country.

“Tackling antisemitism at home means appreciating how this hatred is addressed around the world,” the report goes on to say, adding: “It requires a common understanding of the urgency of countering this scourge with partners everywhere.”

The report’s index of programs is divided into three broad sections, ranging from “International and Multilateral Activities,” “Civil Society Leadership,” and “Law Enforcement and Education Resources.” A sub-section titled “City and Municipal Programs” features local antisemitism efforts in 10 countries ranging from Germany, Belgium, Romania, Canada and Sweden to Poland, Morocco, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. 

In a sub-section titled “United Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites,” the report outlines a 2019 initiative undertaken by United Nations Alliance of Civilizations—a worldwide platform for cross-cultural conversation, understanding, and collaboration—that offers a framework to assist key stakeholders including U.N. member states, religious leaders, civil society organizations, news media and social media platforms in preventing attacks on places of worship and ensuring the security of worshippers so they can practice their faith peacefully.

 Tech Against Terrorism, a program originally created with the backing of the United Nations, outlines the assistance provided to the technology industry in developing the capability to address the misuse of the internet for terrorist activities, all the while upholding human rights principles.

The report concludes with a description of a multilateral European program titled “Training Against Hate Crimes for Law Enforcement”—an initiative aimed at enhancing law enforcement abilities in identifying, comprehending and conducting investigations into hate crimes.