Survey: majority fear terrorist attacks in Germany
A majority of Germans fear that the Gaza war could also lead to major terrorist attacks in Germany. In a survey conducted by the opinion research institute YouGov on behalf of the German Press Agency, 59% said that they consider attacks with many fatalities to be very or somewhat likely. In contrast, only 27 percent believe that terrorist attacks in Germany are very or somewhat unlikely.
Of the possible consequences of the war in Gaza for Germany, 25% are most concerned about possible terrorist attacks. 26% say that they fear above all that more refugees from the Middle East will come to Germany.
In contrast, only 17% cited the growing anti-Semitism in Germany as their main concern. This is followed by the deterioration of relations with countries with a Muslim population (10 percent), fear of rising energy prices (8 percent) and growing hostility towards Muslims (6 percent).
39% consider the German government's position on the Gaza war to be balanced. In contrast, 32% believe that the German government is taking too much of a side with Israel. On the other hand, 7 percent believe that Germany is siding too strongly with the Palestinians.
Following the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on Israel on 7 October, which according to the latest estimates left around 1200 dead, the German government assured Israel of its full solidarity and emphasized the country's right to self-defence. Unlike other European countries, Germany has not yet criticized the attacks by the Israeli armed forces against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in which many civilians were also killed.
The discussions surrounding diplomatic approaches to resolve the ongoing Gaza conflict often include concerns about potential escalations, with 25% of Germans expressing their primary worry being the likelihood of terrorist attacks. Despite the German government's solidarity with Israel, some believe that continued conflicts could provoke further instability, potentially leading to increased tensions and conflicts in Germany itself.
Source: www.dpa.com
