The antisemitism that enveloped the world following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023—and that continues to manifest itself even after a ceasefire recently went into effect, must be boldly addressed and called out if it is ever to be eradicated—Mark Walker, the Trump administration’s nominee for U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, said on Monday.
“We have to be bold and call out names,” Walker said during a trip to Jerusalem. “You never see something eradicated by being ambiguous or vague. I’m happy to be the tip of the spear.”
The 56-year-old pastor and former North Carolina congressman, whose appointment is awaiting U.S. Senate confirmation (expected after an end to the current government shutdown), said the “in-your-face boldness” hatred against Jews that burst out from under the shadow in the United States in the last two years must be tackled head-on.
“After the Oct. 7 massacre, we cannot pull back the layers below the surface on our college campuses and even the sympathetic mindset that exists there,” he said. “To push back on that mindset will be part of our job.”
Walker said he was dumbfounded to see the video this week of a young man being interrogated in the United Kingdom for hours just because he was wearing a Star of David. “Is this where we really are?” he asked.
Walker noted that 19 countries, including Nigeria, China, North Korea, Rwanda and Syria, have seen an elevated level of people being targeted because of their faith.
He stated that his goal in office, serving as advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State after being nominated in April by U.S. President Donald Trump, will be to “engage, expose and eradicate” faith-based persecution.
“This often doesn’t make the news in America, so people out there have no idea how bad it is,” he said. Acknowledging that evil always exists in the world since the time of Cain and Abel, he said, “We can still connect and tell people what is going on regarding people of faith.”
Walker’s visit to Israel focused on religious freedom, unity and resilience after the release of the 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and the ongoing release to Israel of the remains of deceased hostages. He was accompanied by Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, a Canadian philanthropist and founder of the global Orthodox Jewish foundation Dirshu, as well as a delegation from the American Middle East Press Association.
“This is the most dangerous moment for the Jewish people around the world since World War II, including in North America, which used to be considered a safe haven, and not taking action when you have a president and an administration so committed to this would be a crime,” Hofstedter said.
