Protests, threats, attacks
Anti-Semitic incidents in Germany are increasing sharply
October 18, 2023, 1:58 p.m
The Hamas massacre in Israel and the air strikes on Gaza are leading to a massive increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany. Houses are daubed with Stars of David, pro-Israel rallies are disrupted and calls are being made for the annihilation of Israel.
In Germany, anti-Semitic incidents have increased dramatically since the bloody attack on Israel by the terrorist militia Hamas. The Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Research and Information Centers (Rias) has documented 202 incidents nationwide since October 7th – 240 percent more than in the same period last year.
Nine out of ten of the documented incidents were “Israel-related anti-Semitism,” said Rias. Israel is blamed for the Hamas massacres, and the state of Israel is demonized and delegitimized. Rias cited the demonstration at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin on Sunday with around 1,000 people as an example. Slogans were shouted that called for the annihilation of Israel and glorified Hamas’s terrorist attack.
In addition, 21 cases were documented in which rallies and minutes of silence for Israel were disrupted. “In addition to shouting and insults, there was also one threat and six attacks,” said Rias. In Kiel, people were spat on at a solidarity rally. In 33 cases, Israeli flags on public buildings were damaged or stolen. In Mainz, among other places, an Israeli flag was torn down and set on fire.
Graffiti in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia
In addition, Rias recorded fifteen anti-Semitic incidents “in the residential environment” since October 7th. “Residential buildings were daubed with Stars of David, which appeared particularly threatening,” the reporting office noted. Ten such graffiti cases were reported in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia alone. In three incidents it was known that Jews lived in the apartments. These markings are particularly unsettling because of the memory of National Socialism.
Rias is a network of reporting centers where those affected and witnesses can report anti-Semitic incidents. The documentation center is supported by the Federal Commissioner against Anti-Semitism, Felix Klein.