Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday, 9 November, that Germany is currently facing a significant test regarding its commitment to safeguarding its Jewish community. He expressed concern over the “disturbing sight” of kindergartens and synagogues being secured with bulletproof glass and armed police presence.
Speaking at a synagogue in Munich on the anniversary of the “Kristallnacht” pogrom in 1938—which foreshadowed the tragic Nazi Holocaust, resulting in the deaths of over 6 million European Jews—Merz highlighted the alarming rise in antisemitism, describing it as “omnipresent.” During “Kristallnacht”, several violent attacks against Jews occurred, including killings and the destruction of their property, which began on 9 November 1938.
Merz stated, “We observe and hear it in our streets, within our towns and cities, as well as in the communities of our European neighbours and globally—in parliaments, clubs, and schools.” He asserted that this moment is a critical point for realising the sentiment of “Never again,” which is frequently reiterated.
The Chancellor pledged that his government would undertake all necessary actions to protect Jewish life both in Germany and abroad, reaffirming the nation’s longstanding support for Israel as a matter of historical responsibility. His predecessors, Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, also made similar commitments to protect Jewish communities and combat antisemitism throughout Germany.
The most recent annual report from RIAS (the Research and Information Centre on Antisemitism), a monitoring organisation, reveals a dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents since the onset of the Gaza war in 2023, with 8,725 reported incidents last year—more than triple the number recorded in 2022, averaging approximately 24 incidents per day.
Ilse Aigner, the speaker of the Bavarian parliament, was nominated by Merz earlier that day as the conservative candidate to potentially become Germany’s first female head of state. She expressed that the insecurity experienced by many Jews in Germany is “a disgrace for our country.”
