Praising its global leadership on important foreign-policy issues like democracy and anti-Semitism, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by video to the American Jewish Committee’s annual Global Forum on Monday.
Blinken praised the committee’s advocacy in favor of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, noting that AJC was the first Jewish organization outside of Ukraine to call on former President George H.W. Bush in 1991 to recognize its independence after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Blinken said the need to combat anti-Semitism is a priority not just for the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Deborah Lipstadt but for the entire U.S. State Department.
“History has shown that hatred of Jews often goes hand in hand with hatred of other groups,” he noted. “And in places where anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial spread, repression and democracy backsliding are often not far behind.”
He added that the administration is “working tirelessly to expand the normalization” agreements.
According to Blinken, much of the work of the State Department mirrors that of AJC, bringing governments and religious leaders from across the world together to counter intolerance, hatred and anti-Semitism.
The secretary of state also praised outgoing CEO David Harris and welcomed incoming CEO, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), calling him a friend.