Antisemitism in 21st-century Germany

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Antisemitism is a growing problem in 21st-century Germany. [1]

Contents

Definition

In May 2016, a new definition of antisemitism (the Working Definition of Antisemitism) was agreed upon at the Berlin-based International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Conference, stating that "holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel" is antisemitic. [2]

Context

In 1998, Ignatz Bubis, a leader of the German Jewish community, pointed to a "spreading intellectual nationalism" that made him fear a revival of German antisemitism. [3] Others point to Germany's growing Muslim population, both the Turkish "guest workers" who began to arrive in the 1950s, and the large wave of migrants from the Muslim countries who arrive during the European migrant crisis that began in 2015. [4] [5] In 2002, the historian Julius Schoeps said that "resolutions by the German parliament to reject antisemitism are drivel of the worst kind" and "all those ineffective actions are presented to the world as a strong defense against the charge of antisemitism. The truth is: no one is really interested in these matters. No one really cares." [6]

Extent

A 2012 poll showed that 18% of the Turks in Germany think of Jews as inferior human beings. [7] [8] A similar study found that most of Germany's native born Muslim youth and children of immigrants have antisemitic views. [9]

In 2014, antisemitic activities in Germany prompted the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to lead a rally in Berlin against antisemitism in Germany. [10] In that same year, about 3,500 people rallied in front of the Frankfurt City Hall to protest against a wave of antisemitic incidents in Germany. A few hundred of the protesters were from the Kurdish-Israeli Friendship Association. According to the JTA, "Merkel expressed her support for the event in a letter." [11]

The number of crimes against Jews and Jewish institutions continued to increase in 2018. [12] In a 2018 survey conducted by the European Union, 85% of Jewish respondents in Germany said that antisemitism was a "very big" or "fairly big" issue, and 89% said that antisemitism had become a worse problem in the last five years. [1] In February 2019, crime data released by the government for 2018 and published in Der Tagesspiegel showed a yearly increase of 10%, with 1,646 crimes linked to a hatred of Jews in 2018, with the totals not finalised as yet. There was a 60% rise in physical attacks (62 violent incidents, vs 37 in 2017). Germany also reported a new record of cases linked to hatred of Jews in 2020, with 2,275 crimes with an antisemitic background until the end of January 2021. [13]

Perpetrators of antisemitistic verbal harassment and physical assault. Characterisation of antisemitic attackers as reported by Jewish victims. An attacker may belong to more than 1 group. [14]

Characteristics of antisemites in Germany

In police statistics, more than 90 percent of incidents are counted as "right wing extremism". But government officials and Jewish leaders doubt that figure, because cases with unknown perpetrators and some kinds of attacks get automatically classified as "extreme right". [15]

A 2017 study on Jewish perspectives on antisemitism in Germany by Bielefeld University found that individuals and groups belonging to the extreme right and extreme left were equally represented as perpetrators of antisemitic harassment and assault, while the largest part of the attacks were committed by Muslim assailants. The study also found that 70% of the participants feared a rise in antisemitism due to immigration citing the antisemitic views of the refugees. [16]

A study among Jews, that was published by the European Union in 2018, has also listed Muslims as the biggest perpetrator group of antisemitic incidents in Germany; 41% of attacks were committed by extremist Muslims, 20% by far-right and 16% by far-left extremists, according to the study. [17]

In its 2017 summary, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) concluded that antisemitic rhetoric spread by Islamist organizations posed a significant challenge to a peaceful and tolerant society. [18]

Incidents

In January 2017, a German court in the city of Wuppertal upheld the 2015 decision of a lower court which deemed an attempt by three Muslim attackers to burn down a synagogue in 2014 (on the anniversary of Kristallnacht) to be a means of "drawing attention to the Gaza conflict" with Israel, despite the fact that attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions as a result of the actions of the state of Israel amounts to collective punishment and a form of antisemitism. [2] The offenders were not sent to prison. [2]

The German regional court ruled that the actions of the three perpetrators were governed by anti-Israelism and not antisemitism, while the attackers received suspended sentences. [2] Green Party MP Volker Beck protested the ruling, saying: "This is a decision as far as the motives of the perpetrators are concerned. What do Jews in Germany have to do with the Middle East conflict? Every bit as much as Christians, non-religious people or Muslims in Germany, namely, absolutely nothing. The ignorance of the judiciary toward antisemitism is for many Jews in Germany especially alarming." [2]

Dr. Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), said: "It is unbelievable that attempts to burn a synagogue have been equated with displeasure of Israeli government policies." [2] "This has now given a carte blanche to antisemites across Germany to attack Jews because a German court has given them a ready justification." [2]

In 2018, an Israeli Arab was attempting to win an argument with a Jewish friend by proving that he could walk freely through Berlin wearing a Jewish skullcap. However, he was attacked by a group of Arabic-speaking men. The incident had been recorded and the video went viral. [19] [20] [21]

In 2018, the Echo Music Prize was awarded to rappers who featured antisemitic clichés in their lyrics. As a consequence of protests from artists and the press, the Echo Award was discontinued. [22]

On October 9, 2019, a lone gunman attacked a synagogue in Halle during Yom Kippur but failed to gain access to the building, although two doors were damaged when improvised explosives set off. Later the attacker shot dead a female pedestrian in the street and a man at a nearby Turkish kebab shop. [23]

In September 2021, German police averted a possible Islamic attack on a synagogue in Hagen during Yom Kippur services, arresting four people including a 16-year-old Syrian youth. [24]

During an April 2023 pro-Palestine protest, observers recorded numerous antisemitic chants, including "Death to the Jews". [25] [26] The Berlin Police have confirmed they are investigating charges of Volksverhetzung ; [25] two pro-Palestine demonstrations planned for the following weekend were cancelled. [27]

In October 2023, a Berlin synagogue was firebombed with molotovs in response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war by two masked men. [28]

On 2 February 2024 a Pro-Palestinian college student in Berlin assaulted a Jewish classmate until he was hospitalized after an argument about the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to the Police the Jewish student was punched in the face until he fell to the ground after which was he was kicked while lying on the ground before the attackers fled the scene. The victim suffered non-fatal facial fractures while the attacker was arrested by the police. [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

Antisemitism is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. This sentiment is a form of racism, and a person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Primarily, antisemitic tendencies may be motivated by negative sentiment towards Jews as a people or by negative sentiment towards Jews with regard to Judaism. In the former case, usually presented as racial antisemitism, a person's hostility is driven by the belief that Jews constitute a distinct race with inherent traits or characteristics that are repulsive or inferior to the preferred traits or characteristics within that person's society. In the latter case, known as religious antisemitism, a person's hostility is driven by their religion's perception of Jews and Judaism, typically encompassing doctrines of supersession that expect or demand Jews to turn away from Judaism and submit to the religion presenting itself as Judaism's successor faith—this is a common theme within the other Abrahamic religions. The development of racial and religious antisemitism has historically been encouraged by the concept of anti-Judaism, which is distinct from antisemitism itself.

Antisemitism has increased greatly in the Arab world since the beginning of the 20th century, for several reasons: the dissolution and breakdown of the Ottoman Empire and traditional Islamic society; European influence, brought about by Western imperialism and Arab Christians; Nazi propaganda and relations between Nazi Germany and the Arab world; resentment over Jewish nationalism; the rise of Arab nationalism; and the widespread proliferation of anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist conspiracy theories.

Scholars have studied and debated Muslim attitudes towards Jews, as well as the treatment of Jews in Islamic thought and societies throughout the history of Islam. Parts of the Islamic literary sources give mention to certain Jewish groups present in the past or present, which has led to debates. Some of this overlaps with Islamic remarks on non-Muslim religious groups in general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-Germans (political current)</span> Theoretical and political tendencies within the radical left mainly in Germany and Austria

Anti-German is the generic name applied to a variety of theoretical and political tendencies within the left mainly in Germany and Austria. The Anti-Germans form one of the main camps within the broader Antifa movement, alongside the Anti-Zionist anti-imperialists, after the two currents split between the 1990s and the early 2000s as a result of their diverging views on Israel. The anti-Germans are a fringe movement within the German left: In 2006 Deutsche Welle estimated the number of anti-Germans to be between 500 and 3,000. However, the movement has influenced other political factions and led to a political climate where New Antisemitism is challenged inside the radical left. The basic standpoint of the anti-Germans includes opposition to German nationalism, a critique of mainstream left anti-capitalist views, which are thought to be simplistic and structurally antisemitic, and a critique of antisemitism, which is considered to be deeply rooted in German cultural history. As a result of this analysis of antisemitism, support for Israel and opposition to Anti-Zionism is a primary unifying factor of the anti-German movement. The critical theory of Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer is often cited by anti-German theorists.

New antisemitism is the concept that a new form of antisemitism which developed in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, tends to manifest itself as anti-Zionism. The concept is included in some definitions of antisemitism, such as the working definition of antisemitism and the 3D test of antisemitism. The concept dates to the early 1970s, although the identification of anti-Zionism with antisemitism has "long been de rigueur in Jewish communal and broader pro-Israel circles".

This is a list of countries where antisemitic sentiment has been experienced.

Antisemitism in contemporary Norway deals with antisemitic incidents and attitudes encountered by Jews, either individually or collectively, in Norway since World War II. The mainstream Norwegian political environment has strongly adopted a platform that rejects antisemitism. However, individuals may privately hold antisemitic views. Currently, there are about 1,400 Jews in Norway, in a population of 5.3 million.

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Antisemitism in Pakistan is the presence of hostility and discrimination against Jews in Pakistan based on prejudices against the Jewish people and/or the religion of Judaism. Alongside the prevalence of general stereotypes, Jews are commonly subjected to negative views, feelings and rhetoric in Pakistan, most of which overlap with and are directly related to the antisemitic views prevalent throughout the Islamic world. Widely regarded as miserly within Pakistani Muslim circles, Jews residing in Pakistan have also faced periodic intolerance by the state, which has intensified since the Islamization period of the 1980s under Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who propelled Pakistan towards the adoption of strict and highly-conservative Islamic practices and laws. The Jewish population of Pakistan has rapidly decreased since the state's founding and separation from neighbouring India in August 1947, and as of 2019 estimates, stands at less than 200 people amidst Pakistan's total population of over 200 million, the majority of whom are Muslims.

Antisemitism in France has become heightened since the late 20th century and into the 21st century. In the early 21st century, most Jews in France, like most Muslims in France, are of North African origin. France has the largest population of Jews in the diaspora after the United States—an estimated 500,000–600,000 persons. Paris has the highest population, followed by Marseilles, which has 70,000 Jews. Expressions of antisemitism were seen to rise during the Six-Day War of 1967 and the French anti-Zionist campaign of the 1970s and 1980s. Following the electoral successes achieved by the extreme right-wing National Front and an increasing denial of the Holocaust among some persons in the 1990s, surveys showed an increase in stereotypical antisemitic beliefs among the general French population.

Since World War II, antisemitic prejudice in Italy has seldom taken on aggressive forms.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Sarcelles riots</span>

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The 2018 Berlin antisemitic attack was an attack on a street in the German capital of Berlin. Two young men wearing Jewish skullcaps were insulted by Arabic-speaking passers-by. One of the two, an Arab Israeli citizen, was beaten with a belt by a Palestinian attacker. Video footage led to public outrage.

The working definition of antisemitism, also called the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism or IHRA definition, is a non-legally binding statement on what antisemitism is, that reads: "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." Accompanying the working definition, but of disputed status, are 11 illustrative examples whose purpose is described as guiding the IHRA in its work, seven of which relate to criticism of the Israeli government. As such, pro-Israeli organizations have been advocates for the worldwide legal adoption of the definition.

References

  1. 1 2 Angelos, James (21 May 2019). "The New German Anti-Semitism". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hana Levi Julian (2017-01-14). "German Court Rules No Jail for Muslim Synagogue Arsonists". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  3. ↑ Cohen, Roger (10 November 1998). "Anniversary Sets Germans To Quarreling On Holocaust". New York Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Davis, Austin (21 December 2017). "Anti-Semitism is still alive in Germany as Jews face 'disturbing' discrimination". USA Today. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Gunter Jikeli, "Antisemitism Among Young European Muslims," Chapter 10 in Alvin Hirsch Rosenfeld, Resurgent Antisemitism: Global Perspectives, Indiana University Press, 1993.
  6. ↑ Interview with Julius Schoeps (German). Berlin-judentum.de. Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  7. ↑ Liljeberg Research International: Deutsch-Türkische Lebens und Wertewelten 2012 Archived 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine , July/August 2012, p. 68
  8. ↑ Die Welt: Türkische Migranten hoffen auf muslimische Mehrheit, 17 August 2012, retrieved 23 August 2012
  9. ↑ "Israeli flag burning prompts German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel to back outlawing it". DW News. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Yardley, Jim. "Europe’s Anti-Semitism Comes Out of the Shadows." New York Times. 23 September 2014. 24 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Thousands Rally in Frankfurt Against Anti-Semitism." Jewish Journal. 2 September 2014. 5 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Anti-Semitic crimes increase dramatically in Germany". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Anti-Semitism: Germany sees '10% jump in offences' in 2018". BBC News. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  14. ↑ Andreas Zick, Andreas Hövermann, Silke Jensen, Julia Bernstein (2017). Jüdische Perspektiven auf Antisemitismus in Deutschland Ein Studienbericht für den Expertenrat Antisemitismus (PDF). Bielefeld: Universität Bielefeld. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2018.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Witte, Griff; Beck, Lusia (28 April 2018). "After a refugee influx, does Germany have an imported anti-Semitism problem?". Washington Post.
  16. ↑ Andreas Zick, Andreas Hövermann, Silke Jensen, Julia Bernstein (2017). Jüdische Perspektiven auf Antisemitismus in Deutschland Ein Studienbericht für den Expertenrat Antisemitismus (PDF). Bielefeld: Universität Bielefeld. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2018.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ Salzen, Claudia von; Hackenbruch, Felix (10 December 2018). "Antisemitismus-Studie der EU - Juden in Deutschland fühlen sich zunehmend unsicher". Der Tagesspiegel Online.
  18. ↑ "Verfassungsschutzbericht 2017 Fakten und Tendenzen (Kurzzusammenfassung)". Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (in German). 2018-07-24. p. 30. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  19. ↑ Eddy, Melissa; Curry, Andrew (18 April 2018). "Fury in Germany as Rap Duo With Anti-Jewish Lyrics Gets Award". New York Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  20. ↑ "'Jewish Man' Attacked in Berlin Admits He's an Israeli-Arab Who Didn't Believe Germany Was anti-Semitic". Haaretz. DPA, AP. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  21. ↑ "Rabbis push back against warning not to wear kippas in Germany, urge action". The Times of Israel. 25 April 2018.
  22. ↑ Tsioulcas, Anastasia (April 19, 2018). "Charges Of Anti-Semitism Roil German Music Awards". NPR . Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  23. ↑ "German synagogue shooting was far-right terror, justice minister says". BBC News. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "Yom Kippur attack on German synagogue averted by police". Jerusalem Post . Reuters. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  25. 1 2 "Polizei ermittelt nach Palästinenser-Demo wegen Verdachts der Volksverhetzung" [Police investigate after Palestinian demonstration on suspicion of incitement of the people]. Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (in German). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  26. ↑ "Staatsschutz ermittelt nach Palästinenser-Demo in Berlin" [State security investigates after Palestinian demonstration in Berlin]. ZDF (in German). 10 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  27. ↑ "Berlin: Polizei verbietet Palästinenser-Demos nach antisemitischen Parolen" [Berlin: Police ban Palestinian demonstrations after anti-Semitic slogans]. RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (in German). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  28. ↑ Hülsemann, Laura (October 18, 2023). "Berlin synagogue firebombed: Olaf Scholz condemns attack". Politico . Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  29. ↑ "An argument over the Middle East conflict leaves a Jewish student hospitalized in Berlin". ABC News. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
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