Jews in Germany’s far-right party feeling buyer’s remorse
“The more radical and anti-Western people are succeeding in getting the majority,” said JAfD (Jews in the AfD) co-chair Artur Abramovych.
“The more radical and anti-Western people are succeeding in getting the majority,” said JAfD (Jews in the AfD) co-chair Artur Abramovych.
Following a boycott campaign by anonymous tweeters, Audi and Eurowings pulled ads from a popular German media outlet led by a prominent, pro-Israel German-Jewish intellectual.
Does the open approach of Steffen Seibert mark a new era of friendship between Germany and Israel, or do his kind words belie a “business as usual” approach?
“The devastating realization remains that in Germany in 2022, it took weeks of immense public pressure—once again almost exclusively from Jewish organizations—before the display of ‘Stürmer’ caricatures had consequences,” said Remko Leemhius, director of AJC Berlin.
Orit Arfa sprach mit Bestseller-Autor Alex Epstein über die katastrophale Energiepolitik Deutschlands und unseren blinden Glauben auf fossile Energien verzichten zu können. Er sagt: “Das größte Geschenk, das die Deutschen der Welt machen, ist ihr Beispiel des eigenen Versagens. Keiner wird folgen.“
“Elements being portrayed in certain exhibits are reminiscent of propaganda used by [chief propagandist of the Nazi Party Joseph] Goebbels and his goons during darker times in German history,” said Shira Ben Tzion, spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Berlin. “All red lines have not only been crossed; they have been shattered.”
The Lufthansa affair comes on the heels of a community still souring over the Gil Ofarim incident, which might have damaged the credibility of Jewish claims of anti-Semitism. Could that be the cause of the muted response by the Zentralrat, the official Jewish body?
French President Emmanuel Macron eases to victory among a public wary of challenger Marine Le Pen, who while having moderated her far-right image could not properly defend her past ties with Russia, her campaign fumbles, and, especially among Jews, the liability of her last name.
In an annual conference in Brussels, national conservatives outlined why they stand with Ukraine, just as liberals do. But what differs it their endgame and, by extension, the implications for Israel and other proud nation-states.
Outside of Ukraine, Germany is home to the largest population of Russian-speaking Jews in Europe. “They take it very personally because for us it’s still part of our identity; it’s not just another war on the map,” said Anna Segal, CEO of the Kahal Adass Jisroel congregation in Berlin.
Israeli Minister Eli Avidar calls the police’s breakup of the protest at the Knesset “violent and brutal.”
“Getting to know each other and seeing each other as human beings—with families, with lives—it was eye-opening to me,” said Natalie Zacks, who moved to Israel in 2008 from Detroit.
Civil servant Michael Blume defends allegations of impropriety by going on the offensive against his Jewish accusers. The established German Jewish community supports him, demonstrating a partisan rift. Now, allegations of corruption have surfaced.
What remains up for debate is how much, if at all, Eric Zemmour’s Jewish identity plays a role in his positions, popularity and electability among Jews and non-Jews alike.
The choice of the 40-year-old Green Party member leaves analysts and the media unsure over effects on the domestic Jewish community, anti-Semitism and Israel policy, among other things.
Germany’s “traffic light” government, led by new Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was sworn in on Wednesday under the banner “dare to make progress.” Jewish leaders, activists and analysts, however, fear that the coalition will make less progress in strengthening Israel-German ties.