Germany ‘Judenrein’?

By TOBIAS HUCH
ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS march during a demonstration in Berlin. (photo credit: REUTERS)
ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS march during a demonstration in Berlin.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
They’re marching once more, at Brandenburger Tor and elsewhere. Germany is on the cusp of becoming Jew-free. But today, they’re not lighting torches, and they don’t shout “Sieg Heil.” They’re chanting “child-murdering Israel.” Instead of stretching out their right arms, they show their sympathy with Salafism and radical Islamic attitudes by raising forefingers in the style of the Islamic State terrorist organization, calling out “Allahu Akbar!”
These campaigners of never- ending hatred don’t have in mind any sort of peaceful creed. This is simply about the statement “anyone who isn’t Muslim is worth less than an animal and thus shall be killed.” They blithely admit their undisguised contempt for “non-believers” in interviews with journalists, and make no effort to hide their true feelings against representatives of the Reichsbürger Movement or Querfront members, other partly antisemitic groups in present Germany.
And why should they back off? It is obviously fine to flaunt hatred toward Jews in Germany once again, 73 years after the Third Reich. Among the members of radicalized Islamic circles there even seems to be a kind of peer pressure to express one’s anti-Jewish sentiment. But wait, something has changed: In previous years, they always made a point of distinguishing between antisemitism and “anti-Zionism.” Since Zionism refers to the imaginary worldwide conspiracy of powerful and influential Jews who plan to destroy Islam, there were numerous people accepting the notion of anti-Zionism as a legitimate criticism of Israel. This has led to the creeping growth of tolerance for antisemitic sentiment.
In fact, Zionism never meant anything but support for the democratic State of Israel and its unconditional right to exist. It means standing up against any demands and efforts of its sworn enemies to destroy its cities and annihilate its people. And its enemies have continuously made such efforts, trying to wipe Israel from the map since the day of its foundation, for almost 70 years now.
Actually, there never was a dividing line between intellectual- driven denial of the State of Israel’s right to exist and antisemitic hatred. This division was blurred right from the beginning. At the end of the day, anti-Zionism is nothing else but a euphemistic paraphrase for pure anti-Jewish disdain. When you dislike Israel and you dislike Jews, you call yourself anti-Zionist. It’s that simple.
And this is how antisemitism returned to Germany and became widely accepted, yet there seems to be no one calling for it to stop. No one takes action, and that includes the German government. Instead, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was seen laying wreaths at the grave of mass murderer and terrorist leader Yasser Arafat. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel shook hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, calling him his friend, right after Abbas donated money – partly German taxpayers’ money – to the family of a Palestinian terrorist, whose crime was stabbing Jewish children.
Gabriel’s ministry is congratulating itself on Facebook for funding “schools” in Gaza, where Hamas is actually storing assault weapons to be used against Israel. In addition, Germany’s representatives continue to show their humbleness toward declared antisemitic politicians like Turkey’s dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
This is the unvarnished reality of Germany in 2017, despite all official lip service and constant downplaying of danger. Seeds are sprouting from the earth.
Seventy years later, Jews in Germany are once again fearing to wear kippot. Even wearing a necklace with the Star of David can be life threatening, depending on where you wear it. Berlin has proven to be an especially dangerous location.
Long ago, local police and over-strained authorities surrendered; entire urban quarters like Neu-Kölln are in the hands of criminal Arab clans. Anti-Jewish and openly fascist protests, e.g. on “Al Quds Day,” are authorized quickly by the administration without restrictions. DITIBMosques, practically run by the official Turkish religion authority, where anti-Jewish sermons are preached, are generously promoted and fostered by the government.
More and more skeptical citizens have begun asking, “What’s going wrong in Germany?” “Why is it so hard to distance ourselves from Hamas and quit funding terrorism?” “Why does Germany allow anti-Jewish demonstrations?” “Why aren’t authorities willing and able to dissolve Arab clans?” “Why don’t they finally deport criminal subjects to their countries of origin?” And, primarily: “Why can’t Germany protect Jews and Jewish life?”
If the responsible leaders will not provide answers to these urgent problems, Germany will soon be Judenrein, or Jew-free once more, with the possibility of long-lasting and crippling effects.
The author is a freelance journalist whose work as appeared in German and international publications.