About two months later, the German government appointed a new commissioner to combat anti-Semitism. Political scientist Katharina von Schnurbein replaced diplomat Felix Klein, who held this position for eight years before moving at the end of last August to Paris to assume the position of Germany's permanent representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
On the occasion of assuming office on October 28, von Schnurbein stressed that combating hatred of Jews represents “an effective protection of our democracy.” She added that anti-Semitism is “an attack on Jewish life, and therefore an attack on our democracy and on the values that hold our society together.”
'Antisemitism must be clearly labeled'
She said that what is important for her is to "clearly name anti-Semitism in all its forms, regardless of its source: whether from the right-wing camp, the left-wing spectrum, or political Islam. We must not condone any of that." But von Schnurbein did not clearly mention in her press release anti-Semitism emanating from bourgeois circles or from traditional parties.
It is noteworthy that Mrs. von Schnurbein was born in 1973 in the town of Riegen in the Bavarian Forest, and after studying political science, she held various positions with the European Union Commission for about 25 years (since 2002). She is married to a Dutch man and has four children.
For his part, the German Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt (from the Bavarian Christian Social Party), who reports to his ministry in this position, described the new Commissioner for Combating Anti-Semitism during the announcement of her appointment as “a distinguished expert in the fight against anti-Semitism.” He added that she has excellent relations within the Jewish community and is highly respected in it.
In fact, von Schnurbein has experience and relationships in this field that are rare for anyone else. Since December 2015, she has served as the European Commission's Commissioner for Combating Anti-Semitism. This position was established at the EU level before being established in Germany, which appointed its own Commissioner for Combating Anti-Semitism at the federal level in 2018. Von Schnurbein has worked in this field long before the wave of anti-Semitism that erupted after the Hamas terrorist attack of 7 October 2023 and the Israeli response to it.
It is noteworthy that the Hamas movement is an armed Palestinian Islamic group, classified in Germany, the European Union, the United States and other countries as a terrorist organization.
“A Europe without Jews is no longer Europe,” von Schnurbein warned in 2019. She said Jews, whether religious or secular, should not have to hide in Europe. She added that anti-Semitism is an indicator of society's decline for the worse. She warned, "This begins with the Jews but does not end with them."
There is a common denominator between her previous work in Brussels and her new work in Berlin. In both cases, the media often talks about the "Commissioner for Combating Anti-Semitism." This description ignores other aspects of her work. At the European Union level, von Schnurbein was the “European Commission Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism and Promoting Jewish Life,” and works in Germany as “the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and Combating Anti-Semitism.” But given the prevailing social conditions with increasing hatred of Jews and attacks against them in Germany and other European Union countries, the media often focuses on the function of warning and alerting.
Controversy in Brussels
In the summer of 2025, controversy arose over the way she managed her position. The German news agency reported that media reports about statements made by von Schnurbein during a meeting of European Union ambassadors in Tel Aviv led to some members of the European Parliament calling for her dismissal.
Von Schnurbein was accused of warning against imposing sanctions on Israel, adopting the positions of the Israeli government, and exceeding its powers. At that time, the European Commission stood by its mandate to combat anti-Semitism, and dozens of Jewish organizations defended it.
Upon assuming her position in Berlin, the new commissioner called for ensuring and supporting the vitality of Jewish life and its presence in the public sphere. She emphasized that Jewish life should be “widely present, self-confident, visible, lively and natural.” For this, society must “take back the initiative.”
The first public events at which the new commissioner appeared were unknown at first. But the coming days will witness activities that are certainly on its agenda. These include the opening of the "Jewish Academy" in Frankfurt (on November 2), where German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will deliver a speech, and the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the main Jewish synagogue in Munich, Ohel Jakob (on November 9), in the presence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
She is also expected to soon participate in political discussions. A draft law is currently being presented to the German Parliament (Bundestag) that criminalizes the denial of Israel's right to exist. The discussion about anti-Semitism among some cadres of the Left Party in Berlin also accompanies the ongoing talks about forming a possible government for the state of Berlin. Politicians working at the federal level have also commented on this topic.
