No place for antisemitism in Germany, minister says after Israeli flags burned

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Bild that while criticism of Trump's decision was understandable, people had no right or reason to burn the Israeli flag.

By REUTERS
Updated: DECEMBER 11, 2017 01:47
People shout slogans against Israel while burning a makeshift Israeli flag during a protest against Trump's Jerusalem declaration, in front of the Syndicate of Journalists in Cairo, Egypt December 7, 2017. (photo credit: MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/REUTERS)
People shout slogans against Israel while burning a makeshift Israeli flag during a protest against Trump's Jerusalem declaration, in front of the Syndicate of Journalists in Cairo, Egypt December 7, 2017.
(photo credit: MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/REUTERS)
BERLIN - German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said there was no place for anti-Semitism in Germany after demonstrators angered by US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel burned Israeli flags in Berlin.
On Sunday, about 2,500 people demonstrated in Berlin against Trump's decision and one Israeli flag was burned, police said, adding that investigations into 11 people had been launched, with one of those related to the flag burning.
On Friday, hundreds of people gathered outside the US embassy in the German capital for "Day of Rage" protests. Police said later on Twitter that they had detained 10 people during the protest and that 12 criminal charges had been brought - including for burning Israeli flags.
Maas told Bild newspaper's Monday edition: "Any kind of antisemitism is an attack on everyone. Antisemitism must never be allowed to have a place (in society) again."
Antisemitism remains a very sensitive issue in Germany more than 70 years after the end of the Nazi-era Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were killed. Germany regards itself as one of Israel's closest allies.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Bild that while criticism of Trump's decision was understandable, people had no right or reason to burn the Israeli flag, stir up hatred against Jews or question Israel's right to exist.
He said whoever did that was "taking a stand not only against Israel but also against the German constitution" and Germany would not tolerate that.
Gabriel said Germany only permitted peaceful demonstrations and would not allow conflicts in which people were prepared to use violence to be brought to Germany from other countries.


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