Outraged at antisemitic agitation in Germany, Chancellor Scholz vows ‘never again’
German leader laments wave of hatred toward Jews, ‘shamefully also here in Germany,’ in wake of massive Hamas terror attack on Israel
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday that he is outraged by the antisemitic agitation spreading to Germany as the Israel-Hamas war rages, and warned at the inauguration of a new synagogue that the vow of “never again” must be unbreakable.
Scholz’s remarks come as antisemitic incidents have been rising in Germany following the outbreak of war that began when terror group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, launched a massive air, sea, and land assault on the Jewish state, killing over 1,400 people — mostly civilians — in a matter of hours. Over 200 people of all ages were abducted by Palestinian terrorists and taken back to Gaza as captives.
Assailants threw two Molotov cocktails at a synagogue in Berlin on Wednesday, prompting Scholz to say that attacks on Jewish institutions would never be accepted.
He expanded on his comments at the inauguration of the temple in Dessau, a city in eastern Germany whose synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis 85 years ago.
“I am deeply outraged by the way in which antisemitic hatred and inhuman agitation have been breaking out since that fateful October 7, on the internet, in social media around the world, and shamefully also here in Germany,” Scholz said. “Here in Germany, of all places.”
“That is why our ‘never again’ must be unbreakable,” Scholz said as he gathered with Jewish leaders at the synagogue. He noted that the community has recently grown as it welcomed people from Ukraine.
“This synagogue here in the middle in Dessau says that Jewish life is and remains a part of Germany. It belongs here,” Scholz said. “Germany will do everything to protect and strengthen Jewish life.”
Following Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli declaration of war on the terror group in Gaza, police have increased security for Jewish institutions in Berlin and all over Germany.
Israeli flags that were flown as a sign of solidarity in front of city halls all over the country have been torn down and burnt. Several buildings in Berlin where Jews live had the star of David painted on doors and walls.
Scholz has vowed to crack down on public displays of support for Hamas in Germany and had also offered aid, including military support, to Israel.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and is carrying out intensive strikes on terror targets while warning civilians to evacuate the north of the Strip ahead of an expected ground offensive.
