The Daily - A Fight Over How to Fight Anti-Semitism

President Trump has issued an executive order cracking down on anti-Semitism. But some Jewish Americans fear that the plan could end up deepening prejudice instead of curbing it. Guest: Max Fisher, a Times international reporter and columnist for The Interpreter. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Background reading:The executive order touches on a defining issue of our time: Who belongs, and who decides?Some students across the United States said they were afraid that the order would backfire, worsening anti-Semitism on college campuses.

Duration: 23m
Broadcast on: 18 Dec 2019
Audio Format: other

Background reading:

The executive order touches on a defining issue of our time: Who belongs, and who decides?
Some students across the United States said they were afraid that the order would backfire, worsening anti-Semitism on college campuses.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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So, you can actually see the complications in this order, what makes it so sensitive in the event where President Trump announced it. Melania and I are delighted to welcome so many friends and families to this incredible house, the White House, to celebrate this really sacred season and a very special time to everyone here today. Happy Hanukkah. At that Hanukkah party, you know, the way that he kind of starts it, as he starts talking about, you know, the scourge of anti-Semitism. As we gather this afternoon, our thoughts turn to the grieving families in New Jersey. Yesterday, two wicked murderers opened fire at a kosher supermarket in kill for innocent souls, including a brave police officer. He talks about this recent shooting in Jersey City. He promises to crush anti-Semitism. My administration will never tolerate the suppression, persecution, or silencing of the Jewish people. He then kind of, you know, introduces the people who he has gathered into the room, which includes some Republican donors who are Jewish, Bob Kraft. My wife, a blessed memory, would be smiling now because she loved America first in Israel and wanted to build bridges between the two places and have tikkun olam. And I think this more than anything is going to help do that. So thank you. This is the owner of the Patriots? Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Big Republican donor. Some Orthodox figures who were there, some evangelical leaders, and then he kind of starts to talk about the things that he has done for the Jewish community and the big three accomplishments that he lists are. So two years ago, I recognized the true capital of Israel and we opened the American Embassy in Jerusalem. Moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. I've also recognized Israel sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Recognizing Israel's annexation of a region called the Golan Heights, which Syria considers part of its territory. And I said to Bob, so what Bob Kraft has said? So what was bigger, Bob? What we did for Israel in terms of Jerusalem and moving the embassy to Jerusalem, becoming the capital of Israel, or the Golan Heights, which you've been looking to do for 52 years. They've been having meetings on the Golan Heights. Nothing happened until I came along. I said, Bob Kraft, which is bigger, which is more important to the Jewish people. They said, neither. I said, what does that mean? He said, what you did by terminating the Iran nuclear deal is bigger than both. I think that's true. Withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, which had been a big request of the Israeli government. So this is kind of his big wind up to introduce the executive order that he's there to announce. Before I sign the executive order, I'd like to ask Oscar to say a few words, and Jonathan will light the menorah. And what's notable to you about this framing from the president, this list that he wraps this into? Well, I mean, American presidents have always treated policies towards Israel as something that is of great interest to the American Jewish community,

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