Anti-Semitism: Study: Hatred of Jews closely linked to right-wing extremism

According to a study, hatred of Jews is closely linked to right-wing extremism. For the years 2019 to 2023, the Rias reporting network assigned 2,284 anti-Semitic incidents to the right-wing extremist spectrum. “This means that the political background of right-wing extremism is the most frequently assigned political spectrum in the period examined,” says the paper “Right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism” published in Potsdam.

Right-wing extremist anti-Semitism is particularly violent, analyzes the Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Reporting Centers. According to the information, six incidents of extreme right-wing violence and 34 attacks have been documented for the period 2019 to 2023. Jewish institutions are particularly at risk, as the attack on the synagogue in Halle in 2019 shows. Anti-Semitic acts of violence are also glorified in the right-wing extremist spectrum.

“Right-wing terrorist anti-Semitism is a central threat to Jews in Germany – and therefore also to our democracy,” explained Rias managing director Benjamin Steinitz.

Different milieus united in hatred of Jews

The evaluation largely refers to the time before the attack on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023. Since then, many cases of anti-Semitism have been attributed to pro-Palestinian activists, especially since fundamental criticism of Israel is usually viewed as anti-Semitic. But Rias writes that Jews in Europe have been hostile, threatened and attacked from various political milieus since October 7th – including from the right.

A banner with the inscription “The State of Israel is our misfortune” was hung at a right-wing extremist scene meeting in Dortmund. Stickers with slogans such as “Free yourself from the guilt cult” appeared in a Nazi memorial in Hanover, some with references to the youth organization of the right-wing extremist party “Die Heimat” (formerly NPD).

The right-wing extremist, conspiracy ideology and anti-Israel content that is constantly available at meetings and on the Internet contributes to the normalization of these narratives, it goes on to say. “Right-wing extremist anti-Semitic narratives are increasingly finding support among the population,” observes Rias. The umbrella organization refers to “defense of memory” and relativizations of the Shoah, as expressed by AfD politicians.

The Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Research and Information Centers is a contact point for people who experience or observe anti-Semitism. The information is recorded, checked and bundled at Rias.