Welcoming the speakers and guests of honour by name,
dear friends of Israel and allies for Jewish life in Germany!
I welcome you on behalf of the Solidaritätsbündnis Israel, to which a broad number of Jewish and non-Jewish organisations belong. From the American Jewish Committee to WIZO, from the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung to the Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaften.
Thank you for joining us this evening in making a clear commitment. „We stand in solidarity and without reservation at the side of Israel and its people! And we also stand at the side of the innocent civilian victims in Gaza.“
Unlike at the terrible, antisemitic demonstrations of recent days, we here stand together peacefully in order to advocate for the togetherness of our society. We do not stand here against Palestinians or even against Islam, but rise up against radical forces that incite their own communities and carry hatred and agitation onto our streets.
Israel, too, is not fighting against Palestinian Arabs or against Muslims, but is defending itself against the terror of Hamas. And Hamas oppresses its own people and abuses these people in its terror against Israel.
Our thoughts and our hearts are with our families, our acquaintances and friends in Israel, who have to spend their days and nights in constant fear of the next alarm and the next flight into the bunker.
Today we stand in solidarity with Israel – and we show our faces against the antisemitic incidents and demonstrations that have severely shaken Germany in recent days.
That we stand together today here , with the most prominent representatives of German politics, is something that strengthens us and does us good.
And nevertheless, or rather precisely because we are standing together here, I address a few words to you, and above all to the politicians:
Antisemitic incidents are unfortunately part of everyday life for us Jewish women and men. We know: what became visible last week in several German cities is only the tip of an oversized iceberg.
During the coronavirus protests, antisemitism became visible in the middle of society. Conspiracy myths grew loud. Added to this is hatred of Jews from the right, from the left, or, as particularly aggressively in recent days, from parts of the Muslim community.
The attacks and obvious cases of antisemitism cannot surprise us against the background of the omnipresence of hatred of Jews. They do shock us nevertheless.
For us, antisemitism and its brother, anti-Zionism, are everyday life. With antisemitic incidents. And in such moments we simply do not stand here together, but then we stand alone..
Jewish women and men often feel left alone. Also because dismay is not enough. What we urgently need are concepts, actions, concrete policy.
Antisemitic incidents must be met with the full severity of the rule of law, and where there are legal gaps or too much latitude, these must be closed. But more is needed.
A consensus across society as a whole is needed. Sustainably funded educational concepts are needed. Money for these programmes is needed. Permanently. No ifs and buts.
And political concepts are needed. Antisemitism, right-wing extremism and Islamism in particular do not arise in a vacuum. There are structures that spread them. And it is precisely these structures that are often not recognised in time, ignored for too long and not combated with sufficient determination.
We have to watch how politics sometimes acts in ways that are hard to comprehend, in domestic and in foreign policy – and too often decides against the recommendations and wishes of experts and of those affected.
The question „what is to be done“ always seems such a difficult one. We do not want to pretend that there is an easy solution against antisemitism. And we recognise and value many honest efforts to combat hatred of Jews, but we have seen the truth on the streets: it is not enough. Not by a long way.
There would be concrete actionsthat would give Jewish women and men the feeling that you are at their side:
- Develop concrete concepts against antisemitism. In domestic policy, in law, in education policy. A large number of organisations, including those that have signed this solidarity alliance for Israel, are available as competent partners for this.
- Consistently ban antisemitic organisations in Germany and dry up their structures, no matter which political direction they come from.
- Restrict the influence of foreign governments, in particular through DITIB and the IZH, in every way possible.
- Do not make unconditional aid payments to UNRWA. The money is invested in rockets and tunnel construction and unfortunately does not benefit the people who could make use of it. Or, via UNRWA, German taxpayers’ money is used to print schoolbooks in the West Bank and Gaza that are bursting with hatred of Israel.
- Confront the antisemitic mullah regime of Iran with firmness instead of with diplomatic elegance and an economically outstretched hand.
- Do not send out anti-Israeli signals visible around the world by constantly voting, in show votes in the bodies of the United Nations, against Israel.
- Demand a credible effort at integration from people who seek protection with us or want to live with us, and promote integration that treats the fight against antisemitism as an essential pillar.
- Treat online hate as just as dangerous as offline crimes.
- Build a comprehensive and functioning protective shield under the rule of law against all antisemites. They must find themselves confronted with a credible threat of legal consequences.
- Protect Jewish institutions – small communities in particular need help here.
- Make the values of the Grundgesetz visible, tangible and palpable, and enable the centre of society to feel a sense of belonging together.
- And finally: please stand consistently – as you do this evening – at the side of us Jewish women and men. So that in future we do not stand alone.
Antisemitism is indeed directed against us Jewish women and men – but the antisemites are directed against democracy as a whole.
If Jewish life in Germany fails, liberal democracy fails! Genuine, action-driven solidarity with Israel and with Jewish life in Germany should be in all our present, current and very own interest.
That is why we must all stand together.
Please act – it is ten past twelve.
Am Israel Chai!Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection Christine Lambrecht
Envoy of the State of Israel Aaron Sagui
Paul Ziemiak (CDU)
Christian Lindner (FDP)
Dietmar Bartsch (Die Linke)
Cem Özdemir (Bündnis90/Grüne)
Reiner Hoffmann (DGB)Amadeu-Antonio-Stiftung
AMCHA Deutschland e.V.
American Jewish Committee Berlin
B’nai B’rith Berlin, Raoul Wallenberg Loge e.V.
Berlin Story Bunker
DEIN – Demokratie und Information e.V.
Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft e.V.
DGB – Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund
DGB – Jugend
DIG Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.
Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk (ELES)
Europäische Janusz Korczak Akademie (EJKA)
Förderkreis “Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas e.V.”
Gesellschaft für Christlich-Jüdische Zusammenarbeit in Berlin e.V.
Hillel Deutschland e.V.
Honestly Concerned e.V.
Ibn Rushd – Goethe Moschee
ILI – I Like Israel e.V.
Initiative 27. Januar e.V.
Jehi ‘Or – Jüdisches Bildungswerk für Demokratie – gegen Antisemitismus gUG (JBDA)
Jüdische Gemeinde zu Berlin KdöR
Jüdische Studierendenunion Deutschland (JSUD)
Jüdischer Campus Berlin
Jüdisches Bildungzentrum Kehilat Chabad Berlin
Jüdisches Forum für Demokratie und gegen Antisemitismus e.V.
JuFo – Junges Forum Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft e.V.
Junge Liberale (JuLis)
Kahal Adass Jisroel e.V.
Kurdische Gemeinde Deutschland e.V.
Makkabi Deutschland e.V.
Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin (MFFB)
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME-Germany)
Stiftung Deutsch-Israelisches Zukunftsforum
Tikvah Institut gUG
WerteInitiative – jüdisch-deutsche Positionen e.V.
WIZO Deutschland e.V.
