As people all around the world are rightly concerned about the spread of the coronavirus, we must continue to be mindful of another dangerous virus that is active throughout the globe and has killed millions: anti-Semitism.

Like many other viruses, anti-Semitism is able to mutate. Calls for boycotts of “Jewish-owned” businesses have been a tactic of anti-Semites for generations.  Following the Holocaust, anti-Semitism has been lurking, expressed most brazenly by elements of the extremes in societies, but now, distressingly, even in the mainstream. And, it has transformed, from expressions of hatred against Jews to also include hatred of Israel, the nation-state of the Jewish people. Thus, calls for boycotts of Jewish businesses—no longer as en vogue—have mutated to be calls for boycotts of Israelis and those doing business with them.

We thank the Austrian Parliament for recently voting to decry the boycott calls against Israel for what it clearly is: anti-Semitism. How sad that the animus at the UN against Israel has become so severe that it could no longer resist the calls to publish a blacklist made up almost exclusively of Israeli businesses, a move that will only enable and embolden the anti-Semitic boycott movement.
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Thank you, Madame President.