Jerusalem, Israel - Nov. 23, 2020 - Anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism. The U.S. is committed to countering the Global BDS Campaign as a manifestation of anti-Semitism." stated a tweet on November 19, 2020, by  Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, during his whirl-wind trip in the Middle East,

Dr. Einat Wilf added tweeting, "Anti-Zionism is the most sustained, broad, ruthless and potentially effective ideological and physical attack on Jews as a collective in the post World War II Era. It is designed to render Jews defenseless and homeless once more. Call it what you will."

On October 21 and 22, 2020, The Conference of Internet Antisemitism: Ancient Hatred, Modern Medium, was hosted by Secretary of State Pompeo, who delivered opening remarks for the first-ever U.S. Government conference focused on combatting online anti-Semitism.

Organized by the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, led by Elan S. Carr, the virtual pre-recorded conference aimed to explore the threats posed by anti-Semitism on the internet and social media and to consider practical responses for governments and civil society.

"An essential part of solving any problem is defining it," began Sen. James Lankford, Co-chair Senate Bipartisan Taskforce Combatting Antisemitism on the importance of IHRA. "We will examine the absolute sea change in understanding exactly what antisemitism is, and what antisemitism looks like, that has come as a result of the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of anti-Semitism by nations and institutions (commonly known in short as IHRA).  The U.S. Department of State has been using the IHRA definition since 2010, and President Donald Trump’s Executive Order Combatting Anti-Semitism of December 2019 adopted the IHRA Definition for all U.S. Executive Agencies as well:"  

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and MK Orti Frakash HaCohen, Dan Ariely, and lawyer Alysa Lewin were among the long list of featured participants.  Notably, in the opening session, British MP Michael Gove emphasized "antisemitism is a threat to us all" as he spoke for bringing nations together to call out the hatred of antisemitism. 

Antisemitism can be life-altering.  Member of Parliament from the British Labour Party Luciana Berger who was harassed and attacked on social media described her personal experiences.

As the two-day conference was nearing conclusion Rabbi Abraham Cooper led an interfaith panel with Rev Sam Rodriquez noting social media is a source of information and hate, and Muslim Salim Mansur decrying the perversion of Islam and "closing of American minds." 

"We are living in historic times. We recently witnessed the first Middle East peace deal in 26 years brokered by President Trump with Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. We felt that coming so soon after these historic events it is important for all of us to hear from a prominent Arab leader, and indeed we are so proud to be joined by His Excellency Dr.  Ali Al Nuaimi of the United Arab Emirates" and with that Elan Carr closed the online conference on antisemitism.

Assistant Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Ellie Cohanim moderated between the pre-recorded video segments.

Full conference HERE