Representatives from 17 US states convened in Kansas City for a two-day leadership summit focused on addressing rising antisemitism and strengthening relations with Israel. The event, held against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, was organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
The State Leadership Summit on Antisemitism and Support for Israel brought together state legislators, attorneys general, religious figures, law enforcement officials, and activists to exchange strategies for combating antisemitic rhetoric and violence, particularly on campuses and in civil society.
Key sessions included discussions on hate crime legislation, security for Jewish institutions, and tools to counter radicalization. Civil rights advocates and survivors of antisemitic attacks shared their insights, providing state officials with practical tools and policy recommendations.
David Soffer, CAM’s director of state engagement, said the gathering aimed to furnish participants with “reliable data, practical solutions and actionable policies” to counter hatred and bolster community security.
Among the most prominent developments during the summit was Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’s signing of Executive Order 13, a directive that formally denounces antisemitism and instructs the Iowa Board of Regents to uphold federal civil rights protections for Jewish students.
“Since the attacks on October 7, we have seen a troubling surge in antisemitism across the country, including at our colleges,” Reynolds said. “Iowa will not tolerate hate.”
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen reiterated his commitment to tackling antisemitism, emphasizing his state’s educational and legislative initiatives. “We will continue to lead, to educate, and to stand together,” he told the attendees.
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson urged states to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, calling it an essential step for coherent policy implementation.
Additional speakers included Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, and Florida Congressman Randy Fine. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee addressed the summit remotely, calling on leaders to act with “moral clarity” in the face of rising hate.
UN ‘obstructing aid to Gaza,’ foundation leader claims
One of the summit’s more controversial moments came from Reverend Johnnie Moore, executive chairman of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, who accused the United Nations of undermining his organization’s efforts to deliver aid in the Gaza Strip.
Moore stated that the foundation had distributed 50 million meals over the past month, ensuring that supplies were not diverted to Hamas. Yet, he claimed the UN actively discouraged its agencies from cooperating with his group, despite its significant role in current aid operations.
“We thought the challenge would come from Hamas, trying to steal aid,” Moore said. “But we discovered that the real resistance came from the machinery of the United Nations itself.”
Moore further alleged that Hamas forces killed 12 of the foundation’s local volunteers and denied medical treatment to others injured in the attack, placing their bodies outside Nasser Hospital in Gaza.
“Despite receiving billions in funding from the US and Europe, the UN didn’t issue a single statement condemning the killing of those aid workers,” he said. “It’s shocking that feeding people has become a point of contention.”
The summit is part of CAM’s larger effort to support legislative and educational reforms at the state level, aimed at tackling antisemitism in schools and universities. Organizers said additional policy frameworks and resources would be released in the coming months.