Vice President Pence Speaks at World Holocaust Forum

JERUSALEM–It’s considered the largest event dedicated to remembering the Holocaust. Over 40 world leaders and dignitaries gathered in Jerusalem Thursday to rally against anti-Semitism at the World Holocaust Forum.

This year’s forum marks 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.  The title of this year’s gathering is “Remembering the Holocaust, Fighting Anti-Semitism.” 

Former Indiana Governor and Vice President Mike Pence was there. 

“We must be prepared to confront and expose the vile tide of anti-Semitism that is fueling hate and violence all across the world and we must stand together,” Pence said. 

He said we must remember the Allied Forces. 

“Including the more than 2 million American soldiers who left hearth and home, suffered appalling casualties, and freed a continent from the grip of tyranny. In its 5 years of existence, more than 1.1 million men, women, and children would perish at Auschwitz,” Pence continued. 

About 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis. Approximately, 5 million non-Jews were also killed. 

The three-hour-long ceremony was held at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Tel Aviv University researchers reported last year that violent attacks against Jews grew significantly in 2018, with the largest reported number of Jews killed in anti-Semitic acts in decades. Spain’s King Filipe the Sixth finds that disturbing. 

“So many times in history, animosity against Jews has shamefully proven to be a symptom and a crude example of intolerance,” Filipe said. 

Joining Pence at the forum were French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Prince Charles, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The presidents of Germany, Italy, and Austria and representatives from Canada were also present. 

The president of Poland boycotted the forum after he was not invited to speak. 

(PHOTO: Abir Sultan/Getty Images)