Felix Klein, the Federal Government’s Anti-Semitism Commissioner, has admitted shortly before the end of his term that significant challenges remain in the fight against Jewish hatred. Speaking to ARD, Klein stated that he must self-critically acknowledge that they have failed to tackle the underlying roots of the issue they seek to combat.
Anti-Semitism has risen dramatically, particularly since October 7, 2023. He emphasized that the “barbaric attack by Hamas on Israel” has severely worsened the entire situation. In 2023 alone, roughly half of all reported antisemitic crimes occurred after October 7, and this number remains high; more than 6,500 such cases were reported in 2025.
Despite these rising statistics, Klein noted that the handling of anti-Semitism has improved under his watch. He pointed to the appointment of dedicated anti-Semitism commissioners not only at the state level but also within public prosecutor’s offices and police departments. “The way police and justice deal with anti-Semitism has become much more professional than before,” he explained. As an example, he recalled that when he began his role, an attack on a Jewish restaurant in Chemnitz was treated by the police for weeks merely as property damage, rather than an antisemitic crime-a situation that no longer occurs today.
While the number of crimes stemming from “an ideology originating from abroad” has increased sharply in official statistics, the Nazis or the far-right remain the most frequent perpetrators, accounting for 46 percent of cases. “Hate speech, insults online, swastikas-this is the reality in Germany,” Klein remarked, adding that this is true everywhere, not just in Eastern Germany.
Klein also issued a strong warning against dissolving the “Brandmauer” (firewall) regarding the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party-a discussion recently initiated by Saxony’s Minister-President, Michael Kretschmer. He considers this viewpoint dangerous, asserting that while not all AfD voters are right-wing extremists, dialogue with voters is necessary. However, he cautioned that engaging the AfD is not a typical political exchange. “If compulsory schooling is to be abolished, which is part of the AfD program in Saxony-Anhalt, it is impossible to envision the implications for our society,” Klein stated. “The firewall must be maintained. That is vital.”
The identity of the person who will succeed Klein at the end of August is not yet known, although Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, announced plans to name a successor soon. Klein offered one piece of advice to his future replacement: “Focusing more strongly on social media. I would do that if I were still in office. We have insufficiently addressed the fight against anti-Semitism online.”
Following his departure, Klein will relocate to Paris to head the German Permanent Representation to the OECD. He described this new post, which connects to his previous work, by saying that the OECD originated as a response to the devastation of the Second World War, succeeding the Marshall Plan. He plans to continue contributing to the organization, where democratic nations gather to determine optimal economic and social conditions.
