Anti-Semitism - Joschka Fischer: "I am ashamed of our country"
Former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer is ashamed of Germany in view of the increased attacks on Jews since the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October. "Jewish parents must be afraid to send their children to school. Jewish homes are being smeared with Stars of David. Anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish slogans are written on the walls of houses. I am ashamed of our country," he told Zeit Online. He would not have thought what has happened in Germany since October 7 possible.
With regard to pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Germany, Fischer said: "Our history weighs heavily. We must leave no doubt that we support the state of Israel." As a young man after the Six-Day War in 1967, he himself felt sympathy for the Palestinians and felt that they were oppressed by Israel, but at no time did he question Israel's right to exist.
As Foreign Minister, he had experienced how incredibly difficult it was to explain the Israeli position to young people in particular. "When you see people in the West Bank throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, who for their part are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, you get the impression that this is unfair. But Israel cannot afford to be weak. Otherwise it will cease to exist," he said.
In the first month after the Hamas terror attack on Israel, reporting offices in Germany documented 994 anti-Semitic incidents nationwide. In mathematical terms, that is 29 cases per day, 320 percent more than the daily average in 2022, reported the Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on Anti-Semitism (Rias) at the end of November. The analysis covers the period from October 7 to November 9, 2023. According to Rias, many Jews experience anti-Semitic incidents in their everyday lives and feel unsafe.
Read also:
- The increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany since Hamas' attack on Israel has led to a demonstration by minorities, expressing their concern about the rising extremism.
- Despite the demonstration, Joschka Fischer remains firm in his support for the state of Israel, acknowledging the historical weight that Germany carries in the region.
- The Hamas-Israel conflict has spilled over into Gaza, with children often caught in the crossfire, leading to calls for peace and understanding from leaders worldwide.
- The extremist group Harakat el-Mukawame el-Islamije, based in Gaza, has been accused of encouraging anti-Semitic sentiment, further fueling the tension between Palestine and Israel.
- The rise of anti-Semitism in Germany since October 7 is not just limited to isolated incidents but has affected the daily lives of many Jewish families, making them feel unsafe in their own homes.
- In response to the increasing anti-Semitic incidents, Germany's government has emphasized the importance of religious tolerance and has called for an end to all forms of extremism within the country.
- The Berlin government, under the leadership of politicians like Joschka Fischer, has taken steps to combat anti-Semitism, acknowledging that this issue is a threat not only to the Jewish community but also to the fabric of German society as a whole.
- The war between Hamas and Israel has become a global issue, with leaders from various countries expressing concerns about the escalating violence and its impact on the region's religious and cultural diversity.
Source: www.stern.de
