The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October was the deadliest attack on Jewish people since the Shoah. Eighty-five years after the November pogroms of 1938, many Jewish people again feel unsafe in Germany and antisemitic slogans are again being shouted in the streets. Such incitement "must be fought with the full force of the law," Federal Minister of the Interior and Community Nancy Faeser told the German Bundestag in her speech on 9 November 2023 in memory of the November pogroms.

For the Federal Government, protecting Jewish people is a priority. Commitment to the existence of the State of Israel and to fostering and protecting Jewish life in Germany are central tenets of German policy. Since 2018, the office of Dr Felix Klein, Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism, has been located in the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. Many initiatives and measures to foster Jewish life in Germany have been launched and supported since then, including a prize for volunteering on behalf of Jewish life in Germany, which was awarded by Federal Minister Faeser and Dr Klein for the first time in 2022.

The Hamas terrorist attack and its impact on security in Germany

Since the Hamas terrorist organisation attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, Germany’s security authorities have been on heightened alert. The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community acted immediately and closely coordinated measures with the interior ministries of Germany’s 16 federal states. Federal Minister Faeser expressed her shock at the attack and publicly declared her solidarity with Israel. She said that the current situation made it imperative to further increase protection for Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany:

Protecting Jewish institutions

"Jewish people must be able to feel safe in Germany," the federal minister stressed. To that end, the Federal Government increased its annual contribution to the Central Council of Jews in Germany this year to 22 million euros. In response to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Federal Minister Faeser met with her counterparts at state level in a special conference on 13 October 2023 to discuss the growing threat posed by demonstrations of support for and solidarity with Hamas. Speaking about the meeting, Faeser said, "Our law enforcement and intelligence agencies are using every available legal means to tackle Islamist extremism. All of Germany’s 16 federal states and the Federal Government are working together towards the same goal." Since then, security at Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany has been further increased.

No tolerance for celebrating terror

Bans on associations are an expression of our resilient democracy. Under Article 9 (2) of the Basic Law, associations can be banned if their aims or activities violate criminal law, or if they oppose the constitutional order or the concept of international understanding.  On 2 November 2023, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community banned the terrorist organisation Hamas and the international organisation Samidoun – Palestinian Solidarity Network from all activity in Germany. The sub-organisation Samidoun Deutschland, which also operates under the names "HIRAK – Palestinian Youth Mobilization Jugendbewegung (Germany)” and “Hirak e.V.”, was also banned. “Today, I banned all activity in Germany by Hamas, a terrorist organisation whose aim is to destroy the State of Israel," the federal minister explained. "Samidoun is an international network which disseminates anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda while claiming to promote solidarity with prisoners in different countries. There is no place in Germany for antisemitism – no matter the source," the federal minister emphasised.

Freedom of speech and assembly are fundamental rights guaranteed by Germany’s constitution, the Basic Law. Everyone in Germany has the right to freely express opinions and to hold peaceful demonstrations. However, under the rule of law, gatherings may be prohibited if there is a risk of antisemitic incitement. As Federal Minister Faeser explained, "We will not allow any demonstrations praising Hamas terrorism or inciting hatred against Jewish people or the State of Israel. If this happens, the police must take immediate and rigorous action to stop it."

Protecting Jewish life in Germany

Dr Felix Klein, Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism, serves as a contact person for Jewish groups and organisations and as a liaison for federal, state and civil-society measures to combat antisemitism. He also has the task of coordinating the measures taken by all the federal ministries to combat antisemitism.

The National Strategy against Antisemitism and for Jewish Life was adopted by Germany’s Federal Government in November 2022. It is the Federal Government’s first strategy devoted exclusively to combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. The National Strategy is aimed at advancing Jewish life in Germany and making it more visible. It is intended to help increase public awareness and understanding of Jewish history and Jewish life today in all its diversity.

Honouring Jewish life

Since 2022, in his role as Federal Government Commissioner, Dr Klein has awarded a prize for volunteering on behalf of Jewish life in Germany. The prize, which is awarded in two categories, recognises volunteering which strengthens Jewish life in Germany and makes it more visible. One of the latest recipients of the award was the Netzer Germany youth organisation which was honoured for its multiregional seminars and holiday camps which help young people develop a sense of their Jewish identity while bringing together people of diverse backgrounds.

Federal Minister Faeser with the 2022 winners of the prize for volunteering on behalf of Jewish life in Germany. (Larger version opens in new window) Source: Henning Schacht Federal Minister Faeser with the 2022 winners of the prize for volunteering on behalf of Jewish life in Germany.