World
German Jews left terrified after horrific Hamas terrorist attack
Jewish organisations across Germany say each day is now a 'living horror'
October 19, 2023 13:35
Jewish organisations across Germany say each day is now a 'living horror'
October 19, 2023 13:35Jewish organisations across Germany say each day is now a “living horror” as they are terrified of being the victims of terror attacks following Hamas' attack on Israel.
The Jewish community fears that the ongoing situation in the Jewish state will spill out onto the streets.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to ban all Hamas activities in Germany and to prosecute anyone involved in such activities. He also announced a ban on the Samidoun pro-Palestinian network.
Berlin’s deputy head of government, Franziska Giffey, welcomed the move. “Anyone who glorifies and celebrates the terror of Hamas violates this rule of law and is guilty,” she said.
Lorenz Blumenthaler, spokesperson for the Berlin-based Amadeu Antonio Foundation, which combats extremism, racism and antisemitism, told the JC: “We expect the worse, especially after Hamas published posts and called for attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions.
“We are therefore in constant contact with the security forces, as we fear the outbreak of antisemitic pogroms.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a ban on the organisation in the Bundestag (Photo: GPO)
"Jewish people in the city are very, very afraid and so afraid that most of the Jewish institutions in Germany will remain closed. It only takes one person to cause the worst, which could trigger mobilisation of attacks all over Germany. “
Berlin police admitted that they were caught by surprise and overwhelmed by 1,000 pro-Palestine demonstrators last weekend, even though just 50 had officially registered their presence.
Protests also took place in Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Frankfurt, in the state of Hesse.
The Hessian Commissioner for Anti-Semitism, Uwe Becker, denounced the pro-Palestine rally in Frankfurst as “glorification of violence and the promotion of destruction against Israel”.
Hesse’s Interior Minister Peter Beuth said: “We will not allow cold-blooded murders of Jews to be celebrated in public places in Germany.”
Writing in the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper, Benjamin Graumann, chairman of the
Jewish community in Frankfurt, said the “expressed support for Israel is only credible if it does not remain just lip service.
“However, the cheering people in Berlin-Neukölln and the openly displayed antisemitism at demonstrations have so far remained unpunished. Instead, Jewish institutions are now being increasingly protected and most citizens shrug their shoulders at this without recognising how paradoxical this situation is.
The city of Berlin lit up the Brandenburg Gate with the colours of the Israeli flag but a huge pro-Palestinian demonstration took place in the city last weekend (Photo: Instagram)
