Since Hamas terror: a third of Jewish communities in Germany experience "anti-Semitic attacks"

Central Council survey - Since Hamas terror: a third of Jewish communities in Germany experience "anti-Semitic attacks"

The Jewish communities in Germany are suffering from noticeably growing hostility. This is the result of a survey published on Wednesday by the Central Council of Jews among leaders of 98 of the 105 Jewish communities in Germany. According to the survey, a third of the communities have experienced "anti-Semitic attacks" since the attack on Israel by the radical Islamic group Hamas on October 7, ranging from graffiti to personal insults, the Central Council explained.

Almost all communities have also come under increasing "psychological pressure through threatening phone calls and emails", the statement said. Almost 80 percent of community leaders had stated that it had become visibly less safe to live as a Jew in Germany since October 7 and, above all, to present themselves as such. The current situation is pushing many communities to the "limits of their ability to cope".

"These are shocking reports", summarized Central Council President Josef Schuster at the presentation of the new situation report. The main victims are Jewish senior citizens, families with children and young people.

Great trust of the Jewish communities in security authorities

At the same time, however, the results also show that the communities have great trust in the security authorities. Schuster described it as "quite remarkable that, in view of the complex and challenging situation since October 7, almost all of the communities surveyed (96 percent) are satisfied with their cooperation with the security authorities". Cooperation with politicians and local church communities was also generally rated as good.

The extent of this trust is "real news and an important finding", explained Schuster. "The fact that there is a high level of uncertainty in the communities despite this trust is a warning signal for society as a whole," he added. It must not be allowed "that extremists of any stripe endanger our community". Anti-Semitism - "whether Islamist, far-right or far-left - is always an attack on our open society and our constitutional state", warned Schuster.

In an interview with the new issue of the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit", Schuster warned of increasingly active anti-Semitism from the left. "Since October 7, we have seen an increase in anti-Semitic statements and actions from left-wing, unfortunately also academic circles," said the Central Council President.

"The others have the louder voice right now"

The threat from the far-right camp has not disappeared - "it's just that the others have the louder voice right now", said Schuster. "I am naming this because it affects us. We want to live freely in Germany, in our country."

Especially in Berlin and in cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, the lives of Jews have changed for the worse since the Hamas attacks. "There, Jews who wear a kippah or a Star of David on a chain have to fear being insulted or even attacked." In this context, Schuster lamented problems in the population with a migration background from the Arab and Turkish world.