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Tearing down pro-Israel flyers would become a crime in NY under GOP proposal to combat antisemitism

The laws unveiled Wednesday would also prohibit the removal pro-Jewish flyers and posters, a common scene in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks in October and ensuing war in Gaza.

“New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and it is incumbent upon us to take action to ensure nobody is ever made to feel unsafe because of their religion,” Senate Republican Minority leader Robert Ortt said at a news conference.

The slew of bills would also define “antisemitism” under the state Human Rights Law and make it easier to prosecute antisemitic acts such as incitement of violence or vandalism as a hate crime.

Other efforts would:

Ortt, during an Albany press conference, challenged Democrats to support the measures.

He alluded to the US Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu to be replaced and blasted some leftist Democrats “who’ve stood with Hamas” and abandoned the Israel.

The Senate GOP put together a working group to address antisemitism in March of last year, months before Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

But antisemitism has grown more rampant since the attacks and ensuing conflict, the senators said the press conference.

“It’s mind-boggling,” said Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R-Valley Stream).

“I thought there would be more sympathy for our brothers and sisters of Jewish descent. [Antisemitism] has only escalated.”

Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola), who chaired the working group, said the debate over the war should not be used to “mistreat Jews in New York.”

“It’s time for New York to restore its mantle as the center for tolerance in the United States,” Martins said.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins (D-Yonkers) had no immediate comment to the GOP package.

“It’s time for New York to restore its mantle as the center for tolerance in the United States,” Martins said.

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