Anti-Semitic graffiti (illustrative)
Anti-Semitic graffiti (illustrative)Israel news photo: Flash 90

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the rising tide of anti-Semitism abroad.

The resolution was authored by Representatives Peter Roskam (R-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Kay Granger (R-TX).

“Today’s unanimous passage of our resolution sends a clear and strong message that we condemn the rising tide of anti-Semitism throughout the world and that we will do all we can to prevent its spread. In 2014 alone, we have seen increased incidents of murder at Jewish sites, violent attacks and death threats against Jews, as well as violence, arson, graffiti, and other instances of vandalism at Jewish places of worship,” the lawmakers said in a statement posted on Roskam’s website.

“We must ensure the world views such actions for what they are, the vile and hate-fueled persecution of an entire people, rather than an acceptable expression of frustration with political events in the Middle East or anywhere else. The United States must continue to play an essential role in shining a spotlight on the ugly resurgence of anti-Semitism, as well as all forms of religious discrimination,” they added.

“Tonight, Congress sent a resounding message to the world about America's resolve to confront this ugly and dangerous hatred. We commend Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Kay Granger (R-TX) for their leadership mobilizing action against the upsurge in anti-Semitic attacks in Europe, Latin America, and even in the United States,” said Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.

“We hope world leaders will echo Congress’s call and will demonstrate the will to ensure that anti-Semitism has no place in their country and that Jews have the right to live in security and free of harassment and the fear of violence solely because they are Jewish,” he added.

The resolution was cosponsored by 174 House Members, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), Middle East Subcommittee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ranking Member Ted Deutch (D-FL), and House Appropriations Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY).

It comes as the number of anti-Semitic incidents continues to rise across the world, particularly in the wake of Operation Protective Edge in Gaza this summer.

Anti-Semitic attacks nearly doubled in France in the first seven months of 2014 while in the UK, 302 anti-Semitic incidents in July alone, making a whopping 400% increase over the same month last year.

During Operation Protective Edge, violent protests broke out in Paris. In a similar incident, hundreds of Muslim extremists attacked a major synagogue in Paris, provoking clashes with Jewish youths who rushed to defend the site and worshippers trapped inside.

A World Zionist Organization study in August found that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the world jumped 383% in July as compared to the same month the previous year, with Europe showing a 436% increase.

This week, the New York City police department said that suspected hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim people are up following unrest overseas.

There have been 89 suspected anti-Semitic attacks so far this year, up from 64. There have been 17 reported attacks against Muslims, up from seven last year. Fourteen of the attacks on Muslims occurred after July 1.