Authorities have warned of further antisemitic incidents after another day of demonstrations in major German cities. Synagogues have been attacked in reaction to escalating violence in Israel.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas pledged “unwavering security” for synagogues in Germany in an interview with Funke media group.
Police have stepped up protection at Jewish temples and intervened at a number of anti-Israel rallies taking place across the country as violence escalates in the Middle East.
What did Maas say about antisemitic attacks in Germany?
Maas called on citizens to reject the idea of “blaming people of the Jewish faith in Germany for events in the Middle East — whether on the streets or on social media.”
The foreign minister, who placed blame for the violence currently gripping Israel on Hamas, said there would be “zero tolerance for attacks on synagogues in our country.”
German president: “Hatred of Jews will not be tolerated — no matter from whom”
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier underscored that commitment: "Nothing can justify threats against Jews in Germany or attacks on synagogues in German cities.
“Whoever burns Star of David flags or shouts antisemitic slogans on our streets is not only abusing the right to demonstrate but committing a crime,” he told Germany's Bild newspaper.
“We neither want to, nor will we, tolerate the hatred of Jews”, Steinmeier added.
Anti-Israel demonstrations in a number of major German cities, more planned
Germany has seen a number of large demonstrations over the past couple of days, with the latest being staged in Hannover, Gelsenkirchen, Bremen and Munich.
The protests drew several hundred participants each, and saw anti-Israeli as well as antisemitic chants, as well as the burning of Israeli flags.
“The burning of Israeli flags and attacks on Jewish institutions on German soil will not be tolerated,” said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer.
Police have detained several individuals in connection to rocks being thrown through the windows of synagogues across the country on Wednesday and Thursday.
A statement from the Interior Ministry on Thursday said that “security agencies expect intensifying protest activities by Palestinians in Germany as well as parts of the leftist scene.”
Police in Berlin said pro-Palestinian groups had called for three demonstrations in the city's Neukölln and Kreuzberg neighborhoods this weekend.
Jewish group condemns “pure antisemitism”
The Central Council of Jews in Germany condemned the ongoing demonstrations and vandalism. The group also released a disturbing video on Twitter that was recorded in the city of Gelsenkirchen.
In it, police can be seen standing in front of a group of individuals carrying Palestinian and Turkish flags and loudly chanting primitive antisemitic slogans.
The tweet read: “Hatred of Jews in front of the Gelsenkirchen synagogue. The days when Jews are openly insulted on the streets should be far behind us. This is nothing other than pure antisemitism.”
Source for text and photo: Dw.com
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