Anti-Semitic crimes: “Dramatic escalation” - new BKA figures show extent of hatred of Jews
welt.de/politik/deutschland/article68907edf5bfd36554e9e69a9/antisemitische-straftaten-dramatische-zuspitzung-neue-bka-zahlen-zeigen-ausmass-des-judenhasses.html
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BKA records 1047 antisemitic offenses in first quarterThe federal government released preliminary figures after a Left Party inquiry; 27 cases were violent offenses.
- From January through March 2025, the BKA recorded 422 incitement cases and 27 violent offenses.
- The politically motivated crime—right-wing category included 554 other offenses and eleven violent offenses.
- Authorities identified 470 suspects; seven people were arrested and one arrest warrant was issued.
- The statistics list a suspected antisemitically motivated attempted murder in both Berlin and Coburg during February.
Since 7 October 2023 we have witnessed a dramatic escalation of antisemitism in Germany.— Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews, told WELT
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OpinionAntisemitism among the Left: The Central Council of Muslims remains silent: While a Left Party politician poses with an extremist in Berlin, the Central Council ...
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Central Council of Jews warns against left-wing government: There are repeated accusations of anti-Semitism against the Berlin Left Party ...
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Berlin Election: “Endangers Jewish Life” – Central Council of Jews issues clear warning against Left-Wing government
welt.de/politik/deutschland/article6ab2c4ccb1857e86757ab4ae/berlin-wahl-gefaehrdet-juedisches-leben-zentralrat-der-juden-warnt-deutlich-vor-linken-regierung.html
Key FactsJewish Council warns against Left joining Berlin government
Sep 22, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
- Josef Schuster accused Berlin’s state association of having a deep, structural problem with its understanding of democracy.
- After the Left party’s clear Sunday victory, Issa Remmo appeared at its election party in Berlin’s Neukölln district.
- According to parliamentary group leaders, Left MP Ferat Koçak admitted contacts with Issa Remmo’s son and is temporarily suspending his functions.
- Schuster warned that a state government enabled by the SPD and Greens with the Left could endanger social cohesion and Jewish life.
If the Berlin Left paves the way for a state government and thus into the Red City Hall, it endangers our social cohesion and Jewish life in the capital.— Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews, warned about the consequences of a possible coalition with the Berlin Left.
Calls for coalition talks: Ramelow expresses "zero understanding" for criticism from the Central Council of Jews
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Key FactsRamelow rejects Central Council of Jews’ warnings
Sep 21, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
- Vice-President of the Bundestag Bodo Ramelow rejected the Central Council of Jews’ warnings about antisemitic positions in Berlin’s branch.
- According to Schuster, a campaign rally featured calls for the intifada and the deaths of Israeli soldiers.
- Josef Schuster urged the SPD and Greens not to enable the Left’s participation in Berlin’s city government.
- Ramelow urged potential coalition partners to negotiate, citing Eralp’s five-point plan against antisemitism.
To casually cross the red lines drawn before the election would be a grave mistake, one that would further contribute to the ongoing normalization of antisemitism.— Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews, in response to criticism about antisemitic provocations in the Berlin election campaign
Central Council of Jews warns against left-wing government: There are repeated accusations of anti-Semitism against the Berlin Left Party ...
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Key FactsJewish Council warns against Left Party role in Berlin
Sep 21, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
- Josef Schuster said a Neukölln campaign event featured calls for the intifada and killing Israeli soldiers, while spectators sang and danced.
- Schuster said no personnel or political consequences had followed so far and appealed to the SPD and Greens.
- Ramelow rejected the criticism, citing Eralp’s outreach to the Jewish state community and her five-point plan.
- Heidi Reichinnek rejected the allegations, stressing that anyone crossing the Left Party’s red line had no place there.
Elif Eralp belongs in the Red City Hall.— Heidi Reichinnek, chair of the Left party's parliamentary group in the Bundestag, said this on Deutschlandfunk.
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Key FactsSchuster warns about AfD ahead of Saxony-Anhalt vote
Aug 28, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
- Schuster describes the September 6 state election as a test for Germany’s democratic center.
- Schuster warns that AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund and state deputy Hans-Thomas Tillschneider are declared opponents of an open society.
- An Infratest dimap poll places the AfD at 42 percent and the CDU at 22 percent.
- The survey questioned 1,511 eligible voters on August 24–25; an AfD-only government would have no majority.
Out of pure power calculus, there should be no rapprochement with right-wing extremists — no political responsibility for our liberal democracy and our open society may be entrusted to the so-called Alternative for Germany after the election.— Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, in an interview with RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) about the Saxony-Anhalt state election
Antisemitism: Central Council sharply criticizes Left Party for Israel resolutions
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Federal state figures: Right-wing motivated violence reaches its highest level since 2016
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Key FactsRise in Right-Wing Violence in Germany 2025
Feb 15, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesspiegel.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesspiegel.de
- Police recorded 1,521 politically motivated violent incidents linked to the right-wing across Germany in 2025.
- The total number of right-wing motivated offenses fell slightly by about four percent to 41,072, with figures subject to updates.
- Two attempted right-wing motivated homicides were reported in the last quarter of 2025, occurring in October and December.
- Criticism arose over the government's handling of right-wing extremism amid calls for sustained funding of victim support services.
Right-wing violence is escalating further and the federal government is looking away.— Ferat Kocak, an interior politician from the Left Party, accusing the federal government of downplaying right-wing extremism.
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Paid articlePaywallKey FactsThe Left's Stance on Antisemitism
May 13, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: freitag.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: freitag.de
- The Left voted for the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism at its party conference, which is seen as detrimental to Jewish life in Germany.
- Supporting the Jerusalem Declaration is viewed as a deliberate departure from the IHRA definition and carries significant symbolism.
- The party increasingly ignores Israel-related antisemitism, raising concerns about its commitment to Jewish life in Germany.
- The withdrawal of antisemitism-critical members from the Left indicates a radicalization that negatively impacts the political landscape.
Anyone who, in light of the past one and a half years, consciously and intentionally contributes to the silence around Israel-related anti-Semitism does not stand by the side of Jews in Germany.— Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, comments on the stance of the Left Party and its impact on Jewish life in Germany.
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Key FactsLeft Party Votes on Controversial Antisemitism Definition
May 12, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: fr.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: fr.de
- The Left Party has adopted a controversial stance on the definition of antisemitism against the wishes of its leader, attracting criticism from the Central Council of Jews.
- Delegates opted for the 2021 Jerusalem Declaration, which offers a narrower definition of antisemitism and does not explicitly mention Israel.
- The party resolution criticizes the IHRA definition as a tool for suppressing unwanted criticism and political protest.
- Party leader Jan van Aken emphasizes that criticism of the Israeli government does not equate to antisemitism and that the Left will continue to seek dialogue with Jewish organizations.
Criticism of the brutal conduct of war in Gaza and of the far-right Israeli government is not hatred of Israel and is not antisemitism.— Jan van Aken, leader of the Left Party, in response to the criticism from the Central Council of Jews.
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