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JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli chief rabbi on Monday implored Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak up about a recent wave of anti-Semitism and Jewish cemetery vandalism in the United States.
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef called on Netanyahu and Israeli diplomats "not to be silent about the phenomenon of Jewish cemetery desecration."
Yosef spoke at a ceremony marking a deadly 1992 bombing at the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires.
Netanyahu is usually vocal against global anti-Semitism but issued a muted response to recent acts targeting U.S Jewish institutions. Critics in Israel say Netanyahu may be looking to protect his ally, President Donald Trump, who is accused of stirring up xenophobia.
"We have to raise a very clear voice to work as much as possible to stop these anti-Semitic acts," Yosef said.
Netanyahu's office issued a statement later saying Trump phoned him Monday evening and that Netanyahu thanked Trump for his strong stance against anti-Semitism in his speech last week.
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