Thu 14 October 2021:
As part of its pledge as an International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance member country, the United States has set aside $1 million to combat online anti-Semitic hate speech across the Middle East and North Africa, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“First, we’ve allocated $1 million to counter anti-Semitic hate speech online in the Middle East and North Africa,” Blinken said in virtual remarks at the Malmo International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.
“Our priorities include condemning and countering antisemitism, ensuring physical security for Jewish communities, supporting Holocaust education, especially for young people, protecting religious freedom and urging countries to commit more deeply to the fight against hate speech online,” Blinken said in a video message.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden attended the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.
The United States will also start an expanded series of International Visitor Leadership programs that will work with government and civil society representatives to confront Holocaust distortion and anti-Semitism in North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and South America, Blinken said.
The Biden administration will also work with the US Congress to provide another $1 million to Central European countries to support the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and its Global Task Force Against Holocaust Denial and Distortion, Blinken added.
Presidents Isaac Herzog of Israel and Emmanuel Macron of France participated remotely, with the latter addressing the assembly in a prerecorded video message.
From Brussels, von der Leyen said the 27-nation EU plans to create “a network of young European ambassadors for Holocaust remembrance.” She added: “Who is in a better position to teach the lessons of the Shoah to their peers than our young?”
Pedro Pina, head of YouTube in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said the video sharing platform owned by Google pledged more than 5 million euros ($5.8 million).
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