Germany’s Scholz: Every form of antisemitism ‘poisons our society’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday vowed to protect Jewish institutions and communities amid growing acts of antisemitism in Germany since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.

“Every form of antisemitism poisons our society. We won’t tolerate it,” Scholz said on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Nazis’ “Kristallnacht” pogrom of Jews.

“Never again — that means the physical protection of Jewish institutions and communities. It means that the police and judiciary consistently enforce applicable law,” he said, adding: “October 7th allows only one conclusion: Germany’s place is on Israel’s side.”

Scholz also said he was glad that many have shown their solidarity with the victims of the Hamas attack. “That gives us confidence and strengthens our community,” he said.

Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told the Jewish weekly newspaper Jüdische Allgemeine that “the images from German streets in which people of Arab origin in particular are calling for the destruction of Israel and the extermination of all Jews speak to deep-rooted fears that are also related to November 9, 1938.”