Germany ‘On Side Of Israel’ Amid Rising Antisemitism, Chancellor Says
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BERLIN (Worthy News) – The German chancellor told legislators that Germany’s place was “at the side of Israel” after Hamas attacks killed some 1,400 people in the Jewish nation and a Jewish synagogue was attacked in Berlin.
Speaking in the Bundestag, the German parliament, Scholz also vowed “zero tolerance” on antisemitism. He called on German law enforcement agencies to hold anyone who does such things accountable “with all the means that our defensible constitutional state offers.”
He stressed that “These means include bans on associations and activities. The Federal Ministry of the Interior will issue a ban on Hamas activities in Germany,” Scholz added.
Scholz’s remarks follow images in Berlin of some people celebrating Hamas’ attack on Israel last weekend, which he described as “despicable” and “inhuman.”
He added “They contradict all the values to which we as a country are committed.”
Germany’s chancellor earlier condemned antisemitism after assailants hurled two Molotov cocktails at a Jewish synagogue in central Berlin.
OUTRAGED OVER ATTACK
Speaking in Egypt on Wednesday, Scholz said he was “outraged” by what police called a suspected “serious attempted arson” that took place in the early hours of Wednesday in the Mitte district of the city.
“Two unidentified people came on foot and threw two burning bottles filled with liquid in the direction of the synagogue on Brunnenstrasse,” police said in a statement. “The bottles landed on the pavement and broke, extinguishing the fire.”
On Thursday, Scholz told the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, that “Israel has every right to defend itself.” He said “In these difficult times, our place is at the side of Israel.”
However Scholz, who visited Israel this week, said “We are very clear in our conversations with our friends in Israel that humanitarian aid also is part of the picture,” he said.
Civilians in Gaza were “at the mercy of Hamas,” described as the “new Nazis” by Israel’s prime minister, Scholz noted, adding that, therefore humanitarian aid was necessary.
He said anyone who “glorifies” the crimes of Palestinian militant group Hamas, uses its symbols, condones murder, calls for criminal acts, or burns Israeli flags could be prosecuted in Germany.
IRAN ALSO INVOLVED
He also warned Iran and Lebanon-based Hezbollah organization against intervening in the armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.
Scholz said that a spillover of the conflict “would be devastating for the entire region, and that is why it is now important that we do everything we can to help ensure that this situation does not escalate further. That there is no new escalation or a new front in the north.”
Scholz added: “And that’s why I want to repeat what I said last week in the Bundestag: ‘there must be no entry by Hezbollah or Iran or their proxies in this war. That would be a serious mistake’,” he warned.
Scholz spoke as the turmoil in the Middle East came while Germany was already grappling with a rise in politically motivated crimes, including a nearly 29 percent jump in reported antisemitic crimes in 2021. Most of these 3,027 offenses – 2,552 – were attributed to far-right extremists.
However, with Israel attacking Hamas sites, there is concern about anti-Israel protests in Germany.
Across Europe, pro-Palestinian protesters could be already heard shouting: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”Those words have raised fears that they seek the destruction of Israel.
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