United in the Fight Against Antisemitism: A Nonpartisan Approach

The U.S. Department of Education last week initiated seven investigations into alleged antisemitism and two investigations into alleged Islamophobia at six colleges and one K-12 school, signaling a proactive response to an uptick in discrimination and threats against Jewish students on college campuses due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Biden administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism was introduced six months prior to the investigations and aims to combat antisemitism effectively. Nevertheless, some Republicans have attempted to politicize antisemitism, criticizing the National Strategy and undermining its potential. However, bipartisan support for Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act highlights the president’s ability to work with diverse viewpoints and form coalitions. The National Strategy is designed to bridge political divides and unite people in counteracting the hate toward Jewish communities. It offers a comprehensive action plan to combat antisemitism and has incorporated a more precise definition of antisemitism to promote a broader range of viewpoints.

The National Strategy does not play well with some supporters of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition, as they are trying to use the Hamas terror attack to reestablish IHRA supremacy and discredit the National Strategy. By emphasizing support for diverse organizations and forms of antisemitism, the National Strategy presents a multifaceted blueprint to tackle the increased occurrences of antisemitism more effectively. It encourages cooperation between policymakers to benefit collective interests, especially amidst international conflicts like the Israel-Hamas crisis. The strategy aims to nurture cross-ideological working relationships and transcend political differences to address antisemitism and promote inclusivity.