The publication of the report by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is a political ritual. For experts, the added value of the often only marginally changed status report is often limited. This time, however, something stands out in a frightening way. It is the omnipresent hatred of Jews that is inherent in extremist movements across ideological boundaries. The word “anti-Semitism” is mentioned a total of 108 times in the new report. Last year, there were 40. This shows how endangered Jews are today.
One of the reasons is the Hamas attack on October 7 and the Israeli counter-offensive. Various groups are using the events to create enemy images. But it is more than that. Anti-Semitism is always a barometer of society. It is a link between all kinds of extremist and fascist movements.
It unites those who believe in conspiracies and judge and devalue people based on their identity. They are everywhere. Among right-wing extremists, of course. But hatred of Jews is also breaking out in left-wing dominated universities – fueled by anti-imperialists who share the fantasies of annihilation of the supposedly oppressed, and by Islamist groups who like to talk about diversity but want to wipe the Jewish homeland off the map.
Anyone who wants to combat extremism must first and foremost address hatred of Jews. Germany is having a hard time doing this – once again. A state secretary was just fired because she wanted to investigate whether opponents of Israel were receiving funding.
At the German Islam Conference, participants reported a shocking refusal by Islamic associations to address anti-Semitism. And right-wing actors are using anti-Semitic theories about the “New World Order” and Jewish elites controlling migration flows. And what is politics doing? So far, it has often been limited to repressed answers and appeasement. A tragedy.
