Fight against anti-Semitism: Klein: Migrants must understand our relationship with Israel

Without confronting the crimes of the National Socialists, immigrants cannot really become part of German society, according to the Federal Government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein. “We have to win the people who live here over to the culture of remembrance because only then can they successfully integrate into our society,” said Klein in a video interview with the German Press Agency. This applies in particular “to people who have come to us from the Arab world or from Muslim countries”. They often said: “What does this have to do with us?”

“You must know the history of this country”

However, knowledge of German history is important, also in order to correctly understand Germany’s foreign policy actions. Klein said the relationship between Germany and Israel is often difficult to explain to people from Arab states or countries with a Muslim majority. That’s why it’s necessary to say: “You have to know the history of this country in order to be able to classify the relationship between Germany and Israel.”

Klein, who maintains close contacts with Israel in his role as the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the fight against anti-Semitism, also sees that this relationship is not always free of tension. He said: “There are statements made by Israeli ministers that are absolutely unacceptable and that are also contrary to international law.” An example of this is Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statement that the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip should be starved. It is good that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) “clearly reject this rhetoric.”

Statements by Israeli cabinet members that violate international law

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should also recognize that it would be damaging to its own position in the proceedings before the International Criminal Court in The Hague if members of the cabinet made such comments, Klein continued. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his former defense minister Joav Galant in December for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza war broke out after the attack on Israel by Hamas and other terrorist groups on October 7, 2023, with around 1,200 deaths. Large parts of the densely populated coastal strip are now in ruins. According to Palestinian information, more than 47,000 people have died there since October 2023

Klein said he expected that with the agreement on a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages, fewer anti-Semitic crimes would be committed in Germany in the future. This was also the case after previous wars. However, the “anti-Israel milieu” will continue to exist.