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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry participated in a roundtable discussion on the increase in anti-Semitism with American and European Jewish community leaders.

The roundtable held Tuesday in Washington at the U.S. Department of State was convened “to address the recent sharp increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric, vandalism, and violence facing many Jewish communities worldwide,” according to a statement released by the State Department.

During the discussion, Kerry “reiterated the U.S. government’s deep concern about the prevalence and pervasiveness of anti-Semitic threats and attacks against Jewish individuals, houses of worship, and businesses during the past few months,” according to the State Department.

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The discussion was hosted by Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski, and Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Ira Forman. Several other senior State Department officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Paul Jones, also participated in the meeting.

The U.S. government is monitoring reported incidents; reaching out to Jewish leaders to better assess conditions on the ground; and working closely through diplomatic channels to encourage governments to speak out against the rise in anti-Semitic threats and violence, and to ensure the security of Jewish communities, the State Department officials told the Jewish leaders.

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