“We have to be very careful”
Green Party politician concerned about the security situation in Germany
October 16, 2023, 8:07 a.m
Since the outbreak of the war in Israel, many politicians have feared attacks on Jewish institutions in Germany. Accordingly, Green MP Konstantin von Notz urges vigilance. Meanwhile, the anti-Semitism commissioner is calling for stricter criminal law for incitement to hatred.
Green Party politician Konstantin von Notz has expressed concern about the security situation in Germany in light of the war in Israel following the Hamas attack. The security situation, which was already “quite tense” due to, among other things, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, has “aggravated significantly due to the latest developments,” the chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
Especially with regard to the protection of Jewish institutions, but also the current demonstrations, it is “absolutely necessary to remain very vigilant,” said von Notz. Today, at a public hearing, several responsible authorities will answer questions from the Bundestag committee responsible for intelligence control, including the presidents of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Federal Intelligence Service and the Federal Office for the Military Counterintelligence Service. The security situation in Germany as a result of the Hamas attack on Israel is likely to be one of the central issues.
“We have to be extremely careful that the current situation is not exploited by other protagonists who threaten our security,” said von Notz. He is thinking of the intelligence services of other countries, which “have been trying to deliberately destabilize our democracy for a long time.” But “organized right-wing extremism and terrorism” is also a danger. In this context, von Notz called for institutions such as the Islamic Center in Hamburg to finally be closed, for actors such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to be “given greater scrutiny” and for their activities to be “effectively prevented under the rule of law”.
Changes to the sedition paragraph demanded
The Federal Government’s Anti-Semitism Commissioner, Felix Klein, also fears an increase in anti-Semitic crimes in Germany. Accordingly, he calls for criminal law to be tightened. “Against the background of the reactions in Germany to the terror of Hamas in Israel, the police and judiciary must be put in an even better position to get threats from the Islamist environment under control,” Klein told the newspapers of the Funke media group. He therefore considers a change to the sedition paragraph in the criminal code to be “necessary”.
In this context, Klein referred to the difficulties experienced so far in applying the penal provisions in practice. In the past, there have been “many terminations of investigations that were met with a lack of understanding among those affected and the public.” The paragraph should be applied in the future without having to establish that the public peace was disturbed by the incitement to hatred, as was the case previously. A “clarifying legal change” should be made “promptly,” Klein demanded, so that the state can “clearly show red lines” “against any form of hatred and agitation on our streets.”
Several pro-Palestinian events banned
The radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip, launched a major attack on Israel on October 7th. Hamas, which was allegedly financed by Iran, fired thousands of rockets and invaded Israel with hundreds of fighters. Hamas fighters carried out bloodbaths in several towns in southern Israel and kidnapped people into the Gaza Strip. In response, the Israeli army put the Gaza Strip under constant fire and completely sealed off the Palestinian territory. The delivery of fuel, food and drinking water was stopped. Water supplies were restored in southern Gaza on Sunday.
In recent days, several pro-Palestinian gatherings have been banned in several German cities in light of the major Hamas attack on Israel. Immediately after the Hamas attack on October 7th, there were celebrations in Berlin-Neukölln.
Further information about the Israel War can be found here