Concern at anti-semitic incidents in Germany

NEW YORK: The Jewish World Congress has expressed strong concerns over an increase in anti-semitic incidents reported in Germany.

Berlin’s appointment of Felix Klein to the newly created antisemitism commissioner role was a step in the right direction, the New York-based organisation said in a statement.

“Nevertheless, it is clear that concerted efforts are needed across the board to arrest the steady rise in violent incidents and harassment and ensure that German Jews continue to feel secure and valued as all German citizens deserve,” Jewish World Congress president Ronald Lauder said.

Official data shows an increase in the number of anti-semitic crimes reported in Germany in the first half of 2018. The number rose to 401 in that time, compared to 362 in the same period the previous year – which equates to an increase of 10.7%.

A total of 349 of the instances reported for the first six months of this year were committed by suspects with far right-wing tendencies.

The country’s capital city, Berlin, recorded 80 such incidents, the highest number of any German region.

An attack on a youth wearing a skullcap in the capital in April and the high-profile cancellation of Germany’s Echo music awards due to an anti-semitism scandal, among other incidents, have put anti-semitism in Germany back in the spotlight this year. – DPA