Reps. Mike Lawler (N.Y.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) on Wednesday echoed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) decision to oppose anti-Semitism legislation. He harshly criticized the reasons for opposing the bill. .
Greene said in a social media post that she would vote against the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2023, which Lawler and Moskowitz introduced last October and passed by a vote of 320-91 late Wednesday. Ta.
Greene said she opposed the bill because it would define saying that Jews killed Jesus as an anti-Semitic act, which is unbiblical.
Green said he would not vote for the bill because the new definition “could make Christians guilty of anti-Semitism who believed the gospel that Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.” Ta.
“Anti-Semitism is wrong, but I will not vote for the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2023 (HR 6090),” Greene posted.
When CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Moskowitz for her reaction to her position, Lawler appeared to roll her eyes. Lawler and Moskowitz co-starred on “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”
They said the bill would not make evangelical beliefs illegal, but would help crack down on common anti-Semitic acts.
“We have no interest in undermining the gospel, and this language does no such thing. For now, the Jewish community is worried about what the ‘Jewish laser woman’ is saying. I mean, that’s not who we want on our side,” Moskowitz said.
Moskowitz mentioned previous controversy In it, Greene linked California wildfires, space lasers and the Rothschild family.
“So she doesn’t want to help protect her community from anti-Semitism. We’re not surprised.”
Lawler criticized Greene’s comments as “absurd” and “thrown into this discussion at the last minute.”
Lawler said the bill’s text uses the working definition of anti-Semitism adopted by former President Trump.
The bill would force the Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism for use in enforcing national anti-discrimination laws.
The group defines anti-Semitism as “certain perceptions of Jews that are sometimes expressed as hatred of Jews,” and that “rhetorical and physical expressions of anti-Semitism are directed against persons and/or their property, Jewish community organizations, and the Jewish people.” It is a religious facility. ”
This definition includes: “Using symbols or messages associated with classical anti-Semitism (e.g., claims that Jews murdered Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis. ” is also included.
Lawlor said he is an Irish-Italian Catholic who believes in Jesus Christ and the gospel, but he knows the bill would not prosecute Christians.
“It’s absurd on its face. It’s inflammatory and absurd,” he said of Greene’s argument.
Lawler argued that using the IHRA definition will help combat anti-Semitism occurring on college campuses “right now.” He said some students are “hiding behind the Israeli-Hamas conflict and somehow spouting anti-Semitism, which is accepted by these universities.”
“So that’s what this bill targets,” Lawlor said.
The Hill has reached out to Greene’s office for comment.
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