Secretary of State John Kerry met today with a group of American and European Jewish community leaders at the U.S. Department of State to discuss the recent sharp increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric, vandalism, and violence facing many Jewish communities worldwide. He 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.

The Secretary’s participation was part of a roundtable discussion hosted by Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski and Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Ira Forman. Several other senior State Department officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Paul Jones, also participated in the meeting.

They all stressed 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.

For more information, please contact Chanan Weissman at WeissmanC@State.gov or (202) 647-4043.