Touch it. Using all channels available to inspire people to take action. And where to turn it into doing something here for the next generation the idea is for the environment series of global Three Thousand on t w and online to get look. More. About vox and then im here today with felix klein germanys federal Anti Semitism commissioner to talk about rising Anti Semitism in germany mr klein you were recently appointed to this newly created post and unlike what many would have expected youre not jewish whats your relationship to judaism. Yes i had jewish friends in School People i got along with very well and who have remained my friends to this day. When i was eighteen i visited israel for the first time and i
really enjoyed it. Afterwards i became a diplomat and often dealt with judaism and israel even though i was never actually stationed there. In twenty fourteen i was asked to be the special representative of the German Foreign office for relations with jewish organizations and Anti Semitism issues. That i was happy to accept and that position brought me where i am today could. You mention travelling to israel when you were young as a musician was that a key experience for you. Yes it was a very special. I was eighteen and it hit me that it only took four hours in a plane to reach a different continent. We were doing an Orchestra Exchange so we went to the Music Conservatory in haifa. There we rehearsed beethoven the same way we did in darmstadt. I realized there were many like minded people in israel who were also
interested in culture. But the country is also very different more oriental and fascinating because it has so many other external influences. That caught my interest early on and i made up my mind that this was a Country Worth learning more about. You stood up for the jewish cause on many occasions whats your motivation. My motivation is the fact that jewish people have met me with so much kindness even friendship. At first i couldnt even understand why Anti Semitism even existed why these people are being attacked simply because of their religion or their affiliations. It made me wonder and i decided it was something i couldnt just let go i wanted to do something about it. How do your non jewish friends see your Special Relationship to judaism in the jewish world. Have there been a strange ments due to the long history of anti semitic cliches. Or have you experienced careless remarks that reveal old cliches. Now and again ill notice that people in my private circle voiced jewish prejudices or so called secondary Anti Semitism that clearly refers to how germanys past is being dealt with. Statements like the jews shouldnt be surprised if theyre attacked here in europe or the way israel treats palestine is no different from how nazis treated jews in the one Nine Hundred Forty s. Opinions like these are clearly anti semitic and i have experienced them before. But ive never been personally attacked for combating Anti Semitism. When you assumed office you said your biggest worry
was rising at the semitism at the center of society what other examples show things are indeed shifting. There are these century old images and documents that are constantly being dug up jews and money jewish influence these widespread terrible anti semitic images keep reappearing. And then theres how people deal with our nazi past i think confronting it has made our country strong because it made us critical. But when people like right wing populist Alexander Galland Trivialize the issue by saying things like the twelve years of nazi rule were just a speck of bird poop in german history and worries me this is the kind of environment in which anti semitic sentiments thrive. Does that also show that antisemitic lines have become quote unquote more normal or commonplace the Technical University in berlin just published a study that shows that Anti Semitism and anti Semitic Attitudes are practically exploding online. Yes i read that study too it worries me a lot and in my opinion Anti Semitism has always been present in germany. But it wasnt as blatant as it is now. Thats new and its strongly related to how the internet and social media have contributed to disinhibiting users and also worries me to observe how this Virtual World is becoming more and more like our real world. And the very negative impact it has on our personal behavior. And by the way this isnt only the case for Anti Semitism its also affected issues like racism homophobia etc. Concerning the internet where do you think your tasks lie in your new position. That we need to
ensure that the network inform Untacked Past In Germany last year is actually applied. So when anti semitic and racist content is posted it is truly deleted and the Internet Providers are held accountable to do so. On the other side we need to raise awareness. So that people who find anti semitic content online report it there needs to be an active response in the Police Criminal statistics released by the your theory of ministry where your positioned indicate that ninety percent of the perpetrators of antisemitic attacks are still extreme right wingers are these statistics wrong. Ive advocated within my ministry and publicly for taking a closer look at those statistics thats completely normal they were published in
two thousand and one but in Two Thousand And Eighteen i think its time to reevaluate their criteria its indeed astounding that over ninety percent of the anti semitic crimes recorded were ascribed to the right. Let me ask jewish people they experience it differently especially when it comes to physical attacks. In these cases they note more Anti Semitism enacted by muslim people. So i think we need to take the threat jewish people perceive seriously and revisit the statistics. That the voice. Of the research and Information Office riaz in berlin calculated that attacks last year rose by sixty percent in comparison to the year before a large part of these took place in berlin has the german capital become a no go area for jewish people. Is
a special case because surveillance works better here than elsewhere. Here we have the realities office you mentioned that victims can turn to. Other cities dont have that yet. Thats one reason why we find so many reported incidents. But of course its also a city with many jewish institutions jewish restaurants and so on. So the threat might be larger here but i wouldnt consider the entire city a no go area. You pointed out earlier there is also muslim Anti Semitism. Do you think that the numbers of these attacks are also risen. With. That first of all id say the term muslim Anti Semitism is wrong because it establishes a false connection between the islamic religion and Anti Semitism. And thats not the case. About Anti Semitism perpetrated by muslim people is indeed
a growing problem and a challenge we need to face. Is specially in light of the twenty fifteen refugee crisis. Here were dealing with people who were socialized in countries where antisemitism was part of everyday life it was almost state doctrine. Now an immense Integration Task lies ahead of us. But i must stand these people didnt come here because they wanted to spread Anti Semitism but because they feared for their lives and thats why we are offering them protection. How do we deal with this large number of people who as you say inherited jewish prejudice. We need to inform them we need to show them that whoever lives here needs to stick to our rules and our values that includes respecting jewish people the same as women who can dress how they like. And we need to signify whoever wants to succeed in this
society must understand our history our sensitivity when it comes to Anti Semitism and when that is violated we are allowed to show zero tolerance and must use the full force of our law with it so that. We have on how about an obligatory visit to a concentration camp memorial. That could be an option if it is well prepared but simply forcing people to visit Isnt Enough Tours of that kind can be very insightful if theyre prepared and discussed properly that the Memorial Directors ive spoken with have told me that muslim visitors are just as taken aback as any other Visitor Christian or atheist if its done right it can produce very good results with it. To conclude our talk i wanted to ask you something that saddens me personally whenever i drive by. The holocaust was seventy years ago but
jewish institutions still need Police Protection i find that shameful do you. Yes i find it worrying and also shameful thats unacceptable we cant get used to seeing police cars stationed in front of jewish buildings i want to do everything in my power to end this situation soon. By that. Id like to make myself and my position redundant as quickly as possible but that wont be soon. That brings us to our last three sentences ill start a line and id ask you to finish it the most important goal of my work is. To raise awareness for antisemitism in germany to make it visible and to generate sympathy for jewish life in germany. That. When i play violin with my
jewish friends i. Have fun and enjoy it. I am vision germany as thats a country that is tolerant aware of its diversity and in which we can look forward to the future. Klein thank you for joining us today thank you. The dawn of modern design nico solution checks out both those ill get to tuning into song and orders and get in the mood for the art schools highly anticipated hundredth anniversary i want to find out more about bouncers legacy and. She takes a journey back in time in the birthplace of revolutionary ideas oh some tension. Next to the. Center of the conflict zone jim