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Trump’s antisemitism envoy says US will bar World Cup attendees tied to antisemitism abroad

From Jerusalem Post · (1d ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The U.S. will deny entry to individuals attending the World Cup who are accused of antisemitism in their home countries.
  • Special Envoy Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun stated that coming to the U.S. is a privilege, not a right, and individuals will be judged on their intent not to spread hate.
  • The policy applies to all individuals, regardless of their position, and comes as several participating nations have faced scrutiny over rising antisemitism.

The United States is taking a firm stance against antisemitism, extending its reach to international events like the FIFA World Cup hosted on American soil. Special Envoy Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun has made it clear that individuals with a history of promoting hate speech, particularly antisemitism, will not be welcome in the country. This policy underscores a commitment to ensuring that major international gatherings are not used as platforms to spread discord and prejudice.

The president and the secretary of state have made it perfectly clear that people who want to sow discord in this country are not welcome here.

— Rabbi Yehuda KaplounExplaining the U.S. policy on barring individuals accused of antisemitism from attending the World Cup.

Kaploun emphasized that entry into the United States is a privilege, not an inherent right. This principle will guide decisions regarding attendees of the upcoming World Cup, which will feature 48 national teams. The envoy clarified that the ban would be applied on an individual basis, irrespective of whether the person is a politician or a private citizen, and that both right-wing and left-wing antisemitism would be considered.

People who want to bring their brand of hate to the United States with antisemitism are not welcome. Coming to this country is a privilege. It’s not a right.

— Rabbi Yehuda KaplounFurther elaborating on the conditions for entry into the United States for World Cup attendees.

This proactive measure is particularly relevant given the participation of several countries with complex relationships with Israel and concerns about rising antisemitism within their borders. Nations like Iran, Turkey, and South Africa are among those that have qualified, and some have faced international criticism or diplomatic friction over issues related to Jewish safety. The U.S. aims to hold countries accountable for the rhetoric of their officials, ensuring that international sporting events do not become a haven for hate.

everybody is judged as an individual.

— Rabbi Yehuda KaplounClarifying that the ban on individuals promoting antisemitism will be applied on a case-by-case basis.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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