UN Holds Meeting on Rising Anti-Semitism

For the first time in its history, the United Nations is sponsoring a meeting Thursday on rising anti-Semitism worldwide.

Today's informal General Assembly session comes in response to a global increase in violence against Jews. It was scheduled before the latest attack -- a shooting spree at a kosher supermarket in Paris last week that left four Jews dead.

On October 1, 37 member nations wrote to U.N. President Sam Kutesa requesting a meeting to address "an alarming outbreak of anti-Semitism worldwide."

"A clear message from the General Assembly is a critical component of combating the sudden rise of violence and hatred directed at Jews," the letter read.

French philosopher and writer Bernard-Henri Levy will deliver an address at Thursday's day-long session. Canadian, German, and French ministers and U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power will also speak.