Jewish Community Leader Expresses Alarm Over Anti-Semitism Trends
In a recent interview with dpa, the head of Germany's Central Council of Jews voiced serious concerns about the current state of anti-Jewish sentiment in the country. "These are untenable conditions," stated Josef Schuster, referencing the December 14 terror attack in Australia where two gunmen killed 15 people, predominantly Jewish victims.
Persistent Hostility Despite Calmer Gaza Situation
Schuster observed that while Gaza has experienced relative calm since October's tentative ceasefire, anti-Semitic attitudes in Germany have not diminished. "That is not the case," he clarified to dpa. Instead, he reported that "anti-Semitism in Germany has surged explosively" following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken to Gaza.
Dangerous Normalization of Hatred
The Jewish leader warned against growing accustomed to high levels of anti-Jewish sentiment. "Data shows that anti-Semitism is consolidating at a high, far too high, level," Schuster noted. "Much worse, my feeling is that our society is experiencing a habituation and normalization effect regarding anti-Semitism. That must not happen."
Conditions for Dialogue and Coexistence
Schuster emphasized that dialogue between Jewish and Palestinian communities remains essential for peaceful coexistence, but stressed that fundamental conditions must first be established. "Israel's right to exist is not negotiable for me," he asserted. "I cannot enter into dialogue with people who want to make demonization of the Israeli state a condition for Jews to participate in social life."
