When people incite others, this is where it all stops.
Anti-Semitism among students in Germany appears to have significantly increased since the start of the Gaza conflict. The German news program "Maybrit Illner" delves into the reasons behind this increase and discusses how to prevent it.
Recently, Federal Education Minister Stark-Watzinger from the FDP called on universities to take strong action against anti-Jewish rhetoric and the glorification of terrorism. Universities should utilize their legal rights to address emergency situations, and the possibility of expelling individual students should be considered in certain cases. Anti-Semitic occurrences on college campuses have become more frequent. For instance, a visitor to an anti-Semitism lecture at the University of Hamburg was attacked and seriously injured last Wednesday, prompting the university to release a strongly worded condemnation of the incident.
In a recent study by the University of Konstanz, commissioned by the German Ministry of Education, it was found that roughly a third of Jewish students surveyed had experienced discrimination, while 8% of the students showed general anti-Semitic attitudes.
Extremism researcher and psychologist Ahmad Mansour offers insight into the underlying causes: "They support Hamas' war of liberation because they believe there are only two sides: the oppressors on one hand and the oppressed on the other," he states. This ideology has even led to discussions in the United States about whether Jews belong to the white race. Mansour warns that a culture war is unfolding, in which this group, which has not only been present in universities but has also been perceived less critically, now poses a significant threat.
Ronen Steinke, a journalist for "Süddeutsche Zeitung" and a Jew from Erlangen, discusses a specific phenomena: anti-Semitism from the left. This is not a new development, Steinke says, but the current escalation is alarming. Many assert that Israel is a colonial entity, and Steinke argues that this is both historically incorrect and unjust. Israel's current inhabitants came seeking refuge from pogroms in Eastern Europe and the Holocaust. "These views are beginning to infiltrate the left-wing population, a group which usually supports refugees, and the fact that they ignore and dismiss this history of persecution and expulsion is a betrayal of their own values," he states.
University Protests
Recently, pro-Palestinian students set up a protest camp at the Free University of Berlin. Over a hundred lecturers from Berlin universities signed an open letter supporting these protests and endorsing the students' right to "peaceful protest," which includes occupying university grounds. The state is funding these educators, and North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU), calls for lecturers to uphold the principles of the German Constitution. It is unacceptable, he says, if opinions are no longer valid due to dogma. "When people incite others, that's the end of the line."
Ahmad Mansour agrees, demanding that universities take more responsibility for the situation. "You can't call for freedom and then intimidate those who disagree," he argues. He further contends that there are already Jewish students in Germany who are too afraid to attend university after October 7. "We need to find a way to intervene earlier."
Green Party leader Omid Nouripour also recognizes the severity of the situation but is unclear about how best to address it. "We must ensure that the situation remains tolerable, because it already isn't for some people," he claims. Unfortunately, he offers little guidance on how to accomplish this.
Steinke is the only guest who provides a potential solution. He suggests that students' fundamental misunderstandings about the situation must be addressed. He proposes that educators engage in open dialogue with students and explain that the inhabitants of modern-day Israel did not migrate there for pleasure. Instead, their ancestors fled persecution in Europe, seeking safety from pogroms and expulsions in Arab countries. "You must stand up for justice as a leftist, not promote the next round of expulsions," he implores.
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- Despite calls from Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger for universities to address anti-Jewish rhetoric and terror glorification, a guest at an anti-Semitism lecture at the University of Berlin was physically attacked last week, underscoring the need for immediate action.
- In a joint statement, over a hundred lecturers from Berlin universities defended the pro-Palestinian protestors at the Free University of Berlin, sparking controversy and raising concerns about potential biases in academic institutions, particularly in relation to Israel war discussions.
- During a segment on ZDF's "Maybrit Illner," it was highlighted that Anti-Semitism has become a significant issue not only in German universities but also in broader Berlin society, with the influx of such views being perceived less critically and contributing to a growing culture war in the city.
Source: www.ntv.de
