(JTA) — Secretary of State John Kerry said the recent rise in anti-Semitism is of great concern to the U.S. government.
On Tuesday, Kerry joined a roundtable discussion with American and European Jewish community leaders held at the State Department in Washington, D.C.
The panel was convened “to address the recent sharp increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric, vandalism, and violence facing many Jewish communities worldwide,” according to a statement released by the department.
Kerry, the statement said, “reiterated the U.S. government’s deep concern about the prevalence and pervasiveness of anti-Semitic threats and attacks against Jewish individuals, houses of worship, and businesses during the past few months.”
Tom Malinowski, an assistant secretary of state, and Ira Forman, the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, hosted the discussion. Several other senior State Department officials also participated in the meeting.
State Department officials told the Jewish leaders that the U.S. government is monitoring reported incidents; reaching out to Jewish leaders to better assess conditions on the ground; and working closely through diplomatic channels to encourage governments to speak out against the rise in anti-Semitic threats and violence, and to ensure the security of Jewish communities.
