A recent study by the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, a think tank closely aligned with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), alleges that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is strategically leveraging the conflict in Israel to bolster its political standing, raising concerns about manipulation and the normalization of extremist ideologies. The findings, reported by “Der Spiegel”, suggest the AfD’s burgeoning “pro-Israel” stance is primarily a calculated maneuver, rather than a sincere expression of solidarity.
The analysis contends that the AfD’s electoral success is intrinsically linked to its anti-Muslim rhetoric. The foundation’s authors argue that the purported support for Israel serves as a central function – a smokescreen to deflect attention from the party’s own history of antisemitism and to reinforce a core brand of anti-Muslim sentiment. Prominent AfD figures, including Beatrix von Storch and Alice Weidel, are accused of deliberately portraying the party as the sole champion of Jewish interests, a performative tactic intended to enhance its public image.
Norbert Lammert, former President of the Bundestag and current Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, vigorously dismissed the AfD’s stance as disingenuous, characterizing it as masking “volkisch nationalism, conspiratorial thinking, hatred of Muslims and antisemitism”. Lammert emphasized the genuine support deserved by both the people of Israel and Jewish communities in Germany, contrasting it sharply with what he described as the AfD’s “politically staged, false solidarity” emanating from a far-right party.
The Konrad-Adenauer Foundation’s researchers frame the AfD’s proclaimed pro-Israel position as a “deceptive maneuver” designed to render far-right perspectives more acceptable within German society. Alarmingly, the study observes that supporters of the AfD disproportionately endorse antisemitic statements, suggesting a deeper, more troubling underlying trend. The findings highlight the urgent need to scrutinize the AfD’s political strategies and the potentially corrosive impact its actions are having on the acceptance of extremist views within the German political landscape.
