Jewish Positions: The 2017 Bundestag Election

The values that decisively shaped the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), our traditions and our customs are Christian-Jewish in origin and have given rise to a free and democratic guiding culture. Everyone who lives here and accepts this guiding culture is part of society. Society enables individuals to live out their personal needs freely and to pursue their own goals, so long as these are not directed against others, against society or against the law.

We wish to see Germany as part of a vibrant European Union.

2. The State as a Neutral State Under the Rule of Law

It is the task of the state to protect this free and democratic guiding culture. That also includes guaranteeing its citizens external, internal and social security. In the difficult balancing act between security and the preservation of personal freedoms, our trust in the rule of law is great. The state governed by the rule of law should be capable of defending itself. Those who do not accept its guiding culture should be sanctioned or – where possible – expelled from the country.

The strength of a state governed by the rule of law depends, among other things, on three components:
1. possession of the means of sanction, 2. awareness of these means among those to whom they are addressed, and 3. the credible use of these means.

The state should maintain its separation from religious institutions. There should be no separate prayer rooms for any religion in public buildings, and apart from religious education no exceptions should be made to the curricula of public schools.

3. The Jewish Religion

Judaism has been present in Germany for more than 1,500 years. It is part of German culture, and the state supports its continued existence and flourishing as far as it can within the framework of its guiding culture. Jewish Germans see themselves as loyal citizens of Germany and have their home here. By its own self-definition, Judaism has no tendency to expand and seeks no change to the way society lives together.

4. Israel

Many Jews regard Israel as their spiritual home. The special bond between Germany and the democratic, Jewish state of Israel is rooted in history; today, however, it is shaped above all by the shared values of the two democracies and by the similar social, economic and security policy questions facing both countries.

In the peace process we expect Germany to stand in solidarity with Israel and to understand that fulfilling the Palestinian desire for self-determination must not lead to further threats to Israel’s security. Alongside the radical Islamist groups, Iran poses the greatest threat to Israel and to the free world; it must be met with firmness rather than appeasement.

5. Dealing with Political Islam

The growing influence of Islamic associations and organisations that seek to give the religion a political dimension, or whose values are incompatible with the Basic Law, is a source of concern not only to Jewish Germans.

Here the state should apply strict criteria to cooperation and funding. Organisations, associations and mosques that do not stand behind democracy and human rights without reservation should be banned, closed and, where appropriate, prosecuted. State treaties may be concluded only under strict conditions. Financial influence and the issuing of directives by foreign governments to German organisations and groups of people must be strictly prevented.

6. Avoiding “Collateral Damage”

In the course of building resilience against political Islam and dissolving parallel societies, equality before the law must be enforced consistently. There must be no areas beyond the reach of the law. This must not, however, lead to inappropriate levelling.

a) Circumcision & Shechita
Jewish circumcision and kosher slaughter (shechita) are constitutive elements of the Jewish religion. Their conditions and circumstances are already sufficiently regulated.

b) Dual Citizenship
Even though there is much to be said for a person holding only one citizenship, there are reasons why two should also be possible. A sense of proportion is needed here. Historically, Jews have had ties to several countries. Such a sense of proportion is therefore advisable, for example, in the case of German-Israeli citizens. Legal and technical grounds must also be taken into account as part of individual assessments.

7. Antisemitism

Rightly, the fight against classical antisemitism (for example economic, political and journalistic conspiracy theories) enjoys political consensus. Yet “criticism of Israel”, “anti-Zionism” and the “BDS movement”, marked as they are by double standards, are the same hatred in a different guise. No room may be given to it. We therefore call for prevention through education and for the condemnation of antisemitic incidents and statements.

8. Radicalism

Every division of society must be counteracted. We find the spread of hatred towards those who think differently and towards minorities, as well as the contempt shown by some for the free and democratic form of our life together, intolerable.

We call on the established democratic parties and on our government to address these problems.