Frank Lautenberg: “I rise this evening to call the Senate's attention to a despicable expression of hatred that occurred in Malaysia…”

“I rise this evening to call the Senate's attention to a despicable expression of hatred that occurred in Malaysia yesterday. In his address to the opening of the 57-nation summit of Islamic nations, Malaysia's Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, urged Muslims around the world to unite against the Jews who he says rule the world by proxy. Dr. Mahathir is a man known for his incendiary public condemnations of the United States, Israel, and the western world. Yesterday, his rhetoric escalated, or should I say degenerated, to a new level of hate. Using the foul canards Hitler and other anti-Semites have repeated throughout history, he accused the Jewish people of gaining control of the most powerful countries. He said 'they, this tiny community, have become a world power,' and he urged the 1.3 billion Muslims throughout the world to fight this 'enemy.' That is his definition. How was the speech received? According to today's New York Times, it got a standing ovation from the kings and presidents, sheiks and emirs, including key U.S. allies, gathered in Malaysia's capital, Putrajaya. I believe these comments are likely to encourage violence against Jewish people worldwide, and especially in Israel.”