Biden condemns anti-Semitism, protests that forget the ‘terror’ of October 7

President Biden on Tuesday appealed to Americans who are “ignoring” the events of the Holocaust and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel to stop, issuing additional criticism of protests on college campuses across the United States.

The president delivered the opening address at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Annual Days of Remembrance ceremony and acknowledged that on college campuses, Jewish students are “blocked, harassed and attacked while walking to class.”

“Anti-Semitism, anti-Semitic posters, slogans, calling for the annihilation of Israel, the only Jewish state in the world,” he said in remarks at the US Capitol. “Too many people deny, minimize, rationalize, ignore the horrors of the Holocaust and October 7th, including Hamas’ appalling use of sexual violence to torture and terrorize Jews – it is absolutely despicable and must stop.”

The president reiterated his support for peaceful protests and demonstrations, but noted where they crossed the line on university campuses.

“I understand that people have strong beliefs and deep convictions about the world. In America, we respect and protect the fundamental right to freedom of expression, to debate, disagree, protest peacefully and make our voices heard. I get it, this is America,” Biden said. “But there is no place on any campus in America for anti-Semitism, hate speech or threats of violence of any kind.”

And he reiterated his “iron-firm” commitment to Israel’s security and its right to exist “even when we disagree.” Biden signaled his dissatisfaction with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war and the lack of focus on humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“Now, here we are. Not 75 years later, but just 7 and a half months later and people are already forgetting, already forgetting that Hamas unleashed this terror,” he said. “It was Hamas that brutalized Israel. It was Hamas that took and continues to hold hostages. I haven’t forgotten and neither have you and we won’t.”

The president gave his first speech last week on the protests on university campuses, during which he criticized the violence, vandalism and forms of hatred resulting from them, arguing that any demonstrations must remain peaceful.

The protests focused on Biden’s pro-Israel stance during the war.

Biden’s comments on Tuesday came as the Israeli military seized the Palestinian-sized Rafah crossing, after the president warned Netanyahu against invading Rafah, and as Hamas said it agreed to a cease-and-desist agreement. fire, but Israel retreated.

In a stunning split-screen moment, Biden began his speech at the US Capitol as adult film star Stormy Daniels recounted her sexual encounter with former President Trump, Biden’s likely opponent in November, in a New York courtroom. York.

CNN, MSNBC and Fox cut out detailed coverage of Trump’s trial to play Biden’s speech.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story