Merz warns: Anti-Semitism in Germany is reaching alarming heights!

Merz warns: Anti-Semitism in Germany is reaching alarming heights!

In memory of the fateful day two years ago, October 7, 2023, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for vigilance against rising anti-Semitism in Germany. Marking the second anniversary of the devastating Hamas attack on Israel, in which some 1,200 people were shot and more than 250 taken hostage, Merz described the day as a "black day" in the history of the Jewish people. “The wound left by this day remains deep,” said the Chancellor. He appealed to the population to show solidarity with Jewish citizens and to actively support them. His words resonated with society at large, which expressed solidarity against hatred of Jews, especially in the form of protests against anti-Semitism, such as in Munich, where numerous events against hatred of Jews took place. This development is viewed as worrying by ZDF.

The ongoing military conflicts and the associated political tensions have also left their mark in Germany. The Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Research and Information Centers (RIAS) is documenting a worrying increase in anti-Semitic incidents. From October 7, 2023 to the end of 2024, an incredible 2,225 meetings with anti-Semitic content were counted. This represents an alarming increase compared to just 1,636 such and registered events in the previous period. According to RIAS, Israel-related anti-Semitism occurred at 89 percent of these gatherings. A threatening normality that alarms extremism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler.

The reality of anti-Semitism

Extremist statements and calls for violence against Jewish communities are repeatedly reported in these reports. Anti-Semitic statements calling for the destruction of Israel or supporting Hamas' terror seem to be part of the depressing norm. The ZDF report highlights that legitimate criticism of Israel often crosses the line into hatred and violence. This unprecedented escalation could lead to emotionally charged protests that could turn dangerous on the anniversary of the attack.

The Federal Commissioner for the Protection of the Constitution also warns of a significant risk situation. In particular, the increase in threats and attacks on Jews in Germany since the beginning of the Gaza War casts a shadow on coexistence in society and raises questions about security and peace, as Tagesschau reports. What is particularly highlighted is that the willingness to use violence against Jewish citizens is growing and that the dangers are real. There were anti-Semitic incidents in 32 German cities, ranging from direct threats and insults.

International reactions

But the problem of anti-Semitism is not only being discussed in Germany. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke of a similar development in Great Britain and described the terrorist attack on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur as a “blemish on our country.” He also expressed his support for the Jewish communities and the search for peace in the Middle East.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, meanwhile, called on Hamas to immediately release the hostages and appealed for an end to hostilities in the region. These international voices suggest that anti-Semitism is not a local problem, but a global one, the roots of which are deeply rooted in conflicts and social tensions. The Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer expresses his condolences to the relatives of the victims and plans to visit an exhibition documenting the attack on the Nova Music Festival, in which many young people died.