Scholz calls for strengthening the fight against anti-Semitism in the face of increased violence in pro-Palestinian protests

The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has called for a rigorous fight against anti-Semitism and hostility towards Israel in Germany, a day after the Police once again confronted pro-Palestinian protesters in Berlin.. In a statement before the Bundestag (Parliament) Scholz reiterated that “anti-Semitism is out of place in Germany, and we will do everything possible to oppose it.”. We will do it as citizens, as those responsible for political leadership.”

“We must adopt a clear position and not look the other way. “The authorities must be clear and prohibit all gatherings where there is a risk of anti-Semitic slogans being uttered, the murder of people being glorified and other things that we cannot accept here,” the chancellor said.

In a new day of demonstrations and in the midst of the growing “atmosphere of hate” that is taking place in the protests, at least 174 people were arrested and 65 agents were injured last night in the different concentrations that toured Berlin. Clashes sometimes focused on the Neukölln district, home to many Muslim immigrants.. A Dpa reporter described the scene in Neukölln as very heated, as riot police moved against protesters who set fire to garbage containers and tires and threw fireworks, bottles and stones.. Four cars and a van were also set on fire.

The spokesman for the Berlin Police Union (GdP, in German), Benjamn Jendro, specified that “some protesters confronted the law enforcement forces with stone throwing, pyrotechnics and even blows.”. With these, there are already 80 police officers who have been injured in two days.

Behind the call for protests are pro-Palestinian associations, including Samidoun, an organization that defends the rights of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and which the German Government is considering banning, as well as left-wing organizations.. The slogans call for an end to Israel's “occupation” and “genocide” in Palestine.

Since the Hamas group launched attacks against Israel on October 7, there have been several pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Berlin and other German cities, in which some participants cheered Hamas or chanted anti-Semitic slogans.. Scholz has called for an even tougher line from the authorities, urging them to ban all gatherings where there is a risk of anti-Semitic slogans being shouted, where the murder of people may be glorified and other things “that we cannot accept here.” .

The leader of the conservative opposition, Friedrich Merz, said he expects “a harsh police and judicial repression” against certain protesters in Germany to demonstrate that “hatred of Jews and violent hostility against Israel must have no place” in the country.

Merz, who heads the CDU/CSU bloc, warned of a “conflict breaking out openly” in European countries as a result of the war in Gaza. For her part, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also condemned the clashes in Berlin upon her arrival at a meeting of European Union interior ministers held today in Luxembourg.

“Yes, we have a high degree of freedom of assembly and it is also okay for people to demonstrate in the streets. But what is not right is the use of violence, and even less so against police forces,” Faeser stressed.. “That is why I strongly condemn last night's attacks on police officers.”

Similar clashes also occurred on Tuesday night.. Early Wednesday morning, two masked individuals threw Molotov cocktails at a synagogue and Jewish center in Berlin.. The devices crashed against the pavement and did not damage the building. The individuals managed to escape despite the presence of police guards outside the synagogue.. The Prosecutor's Office has classified these events as an attack and opened an investigation.