Saying it Straight Up: Friedrich Merz Talks About Antisemitism in Germany
Imported antisemitism has emerged in our context, according to Merz. - Imported form of antisemitism exists here
German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz (CDU) believes that migration plays a significant role in the surge of antisemitic incidents in Germany. During an interview on Fox News from Washington, Merz declared that every measure is being taken to reduce the number of such incidents. "We've got a sort of imported antisemitism with this large number of migrants we've had since 2015," he said.
The epithet "imported antisemitism" has been under fire in recent times by the independent, volunteer organization "Unword of the Year." This year's jury, which consisted of publicist and political scientist Saba-Nur Cheema, historian Meron Mendel, and the director of the Anne Frank Educational Center, chose "imported antisemitism" as their personal unword of the year.
The term points to antisemitism being a primarily migration-related problem, as the jury explains. It's frequently used in far-right circles to marginalize Muslims and individuals with a migration background and divert attention from their antisemitic tendencies.
In 2024, Germany experienced a substantial increase in antisemitic incidents, according to the annual report by the Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on Antisemitism (RIAS). As many as 8,627 antisemitic incidents were recorded in 2024, up by 77% from the previous year. Out of these, 5,857 were labeled as "Israel-related antisemitism," more than double the amount from the year before. RIAS defines this form as placing the blame on Jews in Germany for actions of the Israeli government, distorting the image of Israel, and questioning its right to exist. There were 544 instances where a right-wing extremist background was identified - the highest number since the nationwide comparison began in 2020.
- Friedrich Merz
- Antisemitism
- Germany
- USA
- Washington
- CDU
- Migrants
- Unword of the Year
- Fox News
Digging Deeper:
The suggestion that migration has fueled the rise of antisemitism in Germany, as put forth by Friedrich Merz, is a divisive topic. While Merz and some right-wing figures stand by the idea that migration significantly contributes to the increase in antisemitic incidents, this viewpoint isn't universally supported. Some argue that antisemitism is a broader societal issue, with attributing its rise primarily to migration overlooking the complexities of this issue.
There is no independent, universally accepted evidence that unequivocally connects migration to the rise of antisemitism in Germany. However, some studies and reports do suggest that antisemitic incidents within certain immigrant groups have increased, particularly those originating from places with prevalent antisemitic attitudes. It's worth mentioning that anti-Semitic incidents in Germany spiked in 2024, as reported by monitoring organizations[1].
It's crucial to recognize that the relationship between migration and antisemitism is convoluted, subject to various factors, such as cultural backgrounds, political ideologies, and societal integration processes. Thus, while there may be a correlation between migration and increased antisemitic incidents in some contexts, it's unclear if migration is the main culprit.
In conclusion, while anecdotal evidence and political rhetoric suggest a connection between migration and rising antisemitism, the issue remains a subject of controversy and requires further analysis to fully comprehend its underlying causes.
[1] Monitoring organizations of Antisemitism: German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the German Jewish Forum for Democracy and Human Rights.
- The Parliament resolution on the Commission communication on the European Union's role in the fight against racism and xenophobia, including antisemitism, should address the divisive topic of the impact of migration on the surge of antisemitic incidents in Germany, as discussed by Friedrich Merz.
- Given the ongoing debate about the connection between migration and antisemitism in Germany, as delved into by Friedrich Merz, it would be relevant for policy-and-legislation discussions, general news, and crime-and-justice sectors to incorporate the findings from studies and reports on this topic, as well as the emerging unword "imported antisemitism."
