Berlin Archbishop Heiner Koch has called upon political parties in Berlin to ensure a consistent and strong protection of Jewish life. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Koch noted that the recent elections for the Berlin House of Representatives demonstrated the wide variety of political outlooks within the city.
He stressed that regardless of which party takes power, the leadership will face the challenge of taking the current situation seriously. According to the archbishop, the necessity of dialogue with diverse political positions must never be an excuse to overlook the issue of antisemitism.
Furthermore, Koch proposed integrating the protection of Jewish life into the state constitution. By embedding this protection into the constitution, he argued, all parties, from the extreme left to the extreme right, would be legally bound to fight against antisemitism. Such an addition, he explained, would have consequences for both school curricula and funding guidelines. For Koch, tackling antisemitism is a fundamental part of society and should, therefore, be placed at the foundation of the state constitution.
