Germany adopts anti-Semitism resolution

JTA — Germany’s parliament passed a resolution committing itself to renewed action against anti-Semitism.

The resolution emphasizes the special relationship between Germany and Israel and condemns Israel-related anti-Semitism and terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. It was adopted Thursday with support from the Christian Democratic Union, the Social Democratic Party, the Free Democratic Party and the Greens. The Left Party abstained from voting.

Deidre Berger, head of the Berlin office of the American Jewish Committee, said in a statement that “an action plan is now urgently needed from the federal government and Ministry of Education and the Arts, on how and when the measures that have been agreed on will be carried out.”

Also Thursday, Germany’s Minister of the Interior Hans-Peter Friedrich said that the fight against anti-Semitism must involve all of democratic society.

Friedrich’s comments were made at a conference in Berlin on security for Jewish institutions in Europe sponsored by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe. The conference included sessions about how Jewish communities communicate their security concerns and how states respond to them.