U.S Congressional Committee Cites CST on Jewish Community Safety

On the 9^th July, the U.S Congress Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe introduced a resolution for decisive action to be taken to support and develop security for Jewish community groups across Europe. The resolution aims to tackle crisis “preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and response” for any antisemitic attacks which may occur.

The Chair of the Commission, Congressman Chris Smith, urged the U.S government to work closely with fellow governments, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), European Union, Europol and Interpol in order to formally recognise and collaborate with Jewish community groups. This is in response to the increase in antisemitism across Europe, including “violent attacks on people and places of faith”, the attacks on the Jewish community in Copenhagen and Paris in January and February 2015 and the attackers’ self-professed links to ISIS.

Congressman Smith cited CST’s increase in reported antisemitic incidents; from 535 in 2013 to 1,168 in 2014. Additionally cooperation, training and information sharing between Jewish community groups, governments and Police on the issue of antisemitism are to reflect the formal partnership CST has with the Government and Police of the United Kingdom.

To read the resolution in full please see here.