Obama pledges to battle ‘resurgence of anti-Semitism'

On Int'l Holocaust Remembrance Day, US president vows to remember Holocaust through actions as well as thoughts.

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT
US President Barack Obama 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
US President Barack Obama 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
WASHINGTON – US President Obama stressed that the United States would continue to work to end anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry as he marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“As we celebrate the strength and resilience of survivors, we pledge to stand strong against all those who would commit atrocities, against the resurgence of anti- Semitism, and against hatred in all its forms,” he said in a statement put out by the White House Friday.
“We commit ourselves to keeping their memories alive not only in our thoughts, but through our actions.”
He also spoke of the importance of the “hard work of repairing the world” and that, “Together with the State of Israel, and all our friends around the world, we dedicate ourselves to giving meaning to those powerful words: ‘Never Forget. Never Again.’” Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also issued a statement Friday underscoring the importance of Holocaust education.
“We must remain vigilant, and we must implement robust Holocaust education programs to promote the values of tolerance, understanding and respect as an antidote against senseless hatred and aggression,” she said.
“As we struggle to heal the scars of the past, we must remember our twin promises never to forget the events of the Holocaust, and never to allow such atrocities to occur again.”