“Empty empty phrase” – Özdemir takes stock of Germany’s handling of anti-Semitism

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) calls for an intensified fight against hatred of Jews. “Anti-Semitism has never gone away, it is currently more blatant and inhumane than it has been for many years,” said the Green politician on Tuesday before the state press conference in Stuttgart. In his own words, Özdemir is annoyed in two ways about the way anti-Semitism is dealt with in Germany.

If there are protest events, “they are usually organized by representatives of the Jewish community,” said Özdemir. "Why do mostly Jews have to organize protests against anti-Semitism? Isn't that a task for society as a whole?" he asked. Wouldn’t it also be the responsibility of Muslims, Christians or atheists to say: “Whoever attacks Jews is attacking us?”

Secondly, he is bothered by the sentence that is often used in a “ritualized” way in politics: “Anti-Semitism has no place here.” This sentence is an “empty phrase” as long as it is not followed by any harsh consequences. “Everyone knows that we will not be able to redeem this sentence as long as Jews with the kippah in certain parts of Germany are recommended not to wear the kippah and not to show the Star of David,” said Özdemir.

The Prime Minister warned: “You don’t need to say a sentence that isn’t followed by anything. Unless you don’t mean it seriously.” He cited anti-Semitic incidents in schools as an example. “Will the parents of the child who bullied another child be summoned to school?” And is there then a “tough approach” and support from the respective Ministry of Culture in a country and from the school management? All statements that anti-Semitism has “no room” are “not worth the paper they are written on” as long as they do not have a concrete effect.

“Conspiracy myths like poison”

On Tuesday, the state cabinet appointed the expert group under the anti-Semitism commissioner Michael Blume, some of them new. The expert group, which has existed since 2018, is made up of 19 Jewish and non-Jewish experts from science, associations and civil society.

Blume said on Tuesday: “We are currently experiencing anti-Semitism that is particularly fueled by digital media. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok – conspiracy myths reinforced by algorithms are poisoning our society.”

Susanne Benizri-Wedde, head of the education and youth department of the Israelite Religious Community of Baden, described the everyday experiences of Jews: “People are afraid – in schools, at work, in public – of being recognized as a Jew.” Benizri-Wedde warned: “Jews will disappear if we as a society as a whole do not do something to counter the rampant anti-Semitism.”

Nobody thought it possible that anti-Semitism would actually be experienced in this form 80 years after the Second World War. The older ones experienced déjà vu. “The Jewish community around the world is perceiving a loud silence from the general public,” said Benizri-Wedde. “Many of our members feel left alone.”

Benizri-Wedde told the Catholic News Agency (KNA): "Sometimes you get the feeling that some people are accepting that we as a Jewish community are disappearing. Instead, there should be an outcry against hatred of Jews - from many parts of society." As a Jewish community, we don't just want to be perceived as victims, but rather see ourselves as a living part of society.

KNA/krö