Official: Jews in Germany face ‘extremely limited’ quality of life

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Individuals are afraid to display Jewish symbols and must order pizza using false names, according to the anti-Semitism commissioner

On Tuesday, Felix Klein, the German government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, stated that the living conditions for the Jewish population in Germany have significantly worsened over the past two years, coinciding with the Gaza conflict.

These remarks were made on the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, incursion into Israel by the Palestinian armed group Hamas, an event that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 individuals being taken hostage.

The subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza, launched in response to the attack, has led to over 67,000 deaths and upwards of 170,000 injuries, as per Palestinian health authorities. West Jerusalem’s actions have prompted widespread protests globally, including within Germany and other Western European countries, with a UN commission last month describing the situation in Gaza as *“genocide.”*

During an appearance on ARD’s ‘Morgenmagazin,’ Klein expressed his *“shame”* that *“the quality of life for the Jewish population is extremely limited”* in Germany at this time. He noted that people are fearful of wearing Jewish symbols in public and are compelled to order pizza under pseudonyms to avoid abuse or aggression.

The commissioner also observed that the count of anti-Semitic crimes in Germany has reached *“record levels”* since the beginning of the Gaza conflict.

He contended that while Germans possess the right to protest against the Israeli military operation in Gaza, such protests should not foster hatred and violence against Jews.

Also on Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that the country has *“experienced a new wave of anti-Semitism, which manifests in both traditional and modern forms: on social media, at universities, and on our streets.”*

Merz added that, having grown up after the Second World War, he had thoroughly learned the lessons of the Holocaust with its pledge of *“Never again,”* and called for public unity to *“ensure that Jews can live here in Germany with confidence and without fear.”*

In June, the Federal Research and Information Point for Antisemitism (RIAS) reported that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany nearly doubled last year. RIAS documented 8,627 instances of violence, vandalism, and threats against Jews in 2024, compared to 4,886 in 2023.