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Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., railed against nan House’s antisemitism authorities connected Wednesday, blasting it arsenic a "ridiculous dislike reside bill" earlier nan authorities was yet passed.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act intends to ace down connected antisemitism connected assemblage campuses and would grow nan ineligible meaning of antisemitism utilized to enforce anti-discrimination laws. The measure comes astatine a clip erstwhile anti-Israel protests are raging at college campuses across nan country.
It was passed overwhelmingly by a 320-91 vote successful nan House, but that’s not earlier critics for illustration Gaetz came retired against its passage, saying connected societal media that immoderate excerpts of nan Bible would meet this bill’s meaning of antisemitism.
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Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, railed against nan House’s antisemitism authorities connected Wednesday, blasting it arsenic a "ridiculous dislike reside bill" earlier nan measure was yet passed. (Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"This evening, I will ballot AGAINST nan ridiculous dislike reside measure called nan ‘Antisemitism Awareness Act,'" Gaetz wrote on X.
"Antisemitism is wrong, but this authorities is written without respect for nan Constitution, communal sense, aliases moreover nan communal knowing of nan meaning of words. The Gospel itself would meet nan meaning of antisemitism nether nan position of this bill!"
If passed by nan Senate and signed by President Biden, nan bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act would instruction that nan Department of Education legally adopt nan International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination rules.
Gaetz provided an illustration of 1 of IHRA’s definitions of antisemitism, which includes "claims of Jews sidesplitting Jesus," claiming that nan Bible would autumn nether nan definition.
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A protester astatine NYU spit connected a motion that said "Jewish" earlier adorning it complete nan connection "White." The last motion said "Pure Evil" and "Jewish Supremacy." The measure comes astatine a clip erstwhile anti-Israel protests are raging at college campuses across nan country. (Obtained by Fox News)
"The Bible is clear. There is nary story aliases contention connected this. Therefore, I will not support this bill," he wrote.
The IHRA defines antisemitism connected its website as: "a definite cognition of Jews, which whitethorn beryllium expressed arsenic hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and beingness manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish aliases non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish organization institutions and belief facilities."
Later connected Wednesday, Gaetz doubled down connected his guidance to nan bill.
"I want to Abolish nan Department of Education. Not empower them arsenic nan "Antisemitism police," Gaetz wrote. "Turning nan DOE into nan Antisemitism constabulary would beryllium a profoundly unfortunate triumph for Antisemitism, actually."
Critics of nan measure attacked it arsenic authorities overreach and said it would negatively impact free speech on campus.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a Jewish progressive who is nan apical Democrat connected nan House Judiciary Committee, besides opposed nan legislation.
"This definition, adopted by nan International Holocaust Remembrance aliases IHRA, includes, quote, modern examples of antisemitism, adjacent quote. The problem is that these examples whitethorn see protected reside successful immoderate context, peculiarly pinch respect to disapproval of nan authorities of Israel," Nadler said during statement connected nan bill.
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Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a Jewish progressive who is nan apical Democrat connected nan House Judiciary Committee, besides opposed nan legislation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
"To beryllium clear, I vehemently disagree pinch nan sentiments toward Israel expressing those examples. And, excessively often, disapproval of Israel does successful truth return nan shape of virulent antisemitism."
The measure had complete a twelve Democratic backers, including Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who are Jewish, and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., among others.
Seventy Democrats voted against nan bill, while 133 voted against it. On nan Republican side, conscionable 21 voted against nan bill, pinch 187 GOP lawmakers successful support.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who led nan bill, told Fox News Digital, "When group prosecute successful harassment aliases bullying of Jewish individuals wherever they warrant nan sidesplitting of Jews aliases usage humor libel aliases clasp Jews collectively responsible for nan actions of nan Israeli authorities — that is antisemitic. It's unfortunate that needs to beryllium clarified, but that's why this measure is necessary."
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is simply a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You tin nonstop tips to [email protected] and travel him connected Twitter @M_Dorgan.
