The House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed a resolution sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Dist. 4) to foster cooperation between governments and Jewish community groups in Europe to counter anti-Semitic violence.

The bipartisan resolution “highlights the need for research, training, resources, public awareness campaigns, and communication as part of the fight against anti-Semitic violence,” said Smith in an Oct. 9 press release. He chairs the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The Foreign Affairs committee reported increases in anti-Semitic acts between 2013 and 2014, from 423 acts to 851 France, from 535 to 1,168 in the United Kingdom, from 788 to 1,076 in Germany, from 64 to 109 in Belgium, from 137 to 255 in Austria, and from 45 to 90 in Italy. 

“This resolution is a blueprint for actions that are critical to prevent more deadly attacks on Europe’s Jewish communities,” Smith added. “Formal recognition and partnerships between governments and Jewish community groups are key, as we see here in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

“If our government encourages and works with our European allies it will help save lives,” Smith said.

Article originally published here:  http://njjewishnews.com/article/28620/smith-resolution-targets-attacks-on-europes-jews#.ViUMZk2FMdV