To combat anti-Jewish sentiment in Germany, Israel’s ambassador, Ron Prosor, is advising mandatory student visits to former concentration camp memorials alongside stronger legislation. Prosor stated to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that knowledge about the former concentration camps and the Jewish genocide would be enormously important, particularly for the “many children with Muslim migration backgrounds”. He noted that during his visits to Arab countries, he initially encountered prejudices against Jews and Israelis when discussing history with hosts, but that understanding gradually improved. Because such encounters are effective, they need to happen much more frequently within Germany as well.
However, according to Prosor, the only way to genuinely combat antisemitism is through consistent legislation. Specifically, the “working definition of antisemitism” developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which was founded in 1998, must be legally enshrined. This definition clarifies that it constitutes a modern form of antisemitism, rather than legitimate criticism, to demonize Israel or deny its right to exist. Only with such a binding foundation can authorities and the judiciary genuinely act against it.
Prosor cautioned that antisemitism has become commonplace in Germany. He pointed out that someone stating “Don’t buy from Israel” is essentially saying “Don’t buy from Jews”. He identified three types of antisemitism in Germany. While the state knows how to deal with antisemitism rooted in far-right hatred, and that “antisemitism from the Muslim world is dangerous because it infiltrates the democratic order like a Trojan horse” he added that “the Jews are not alone in this fight”.
He stated that antisemitism coming from the left is the hardest to combat because it operates on the thin line between freedom of expression and freedom of incitement. He warned that “this line is being crossed every day” a trend particularly visible in academic and cultural circles where Jewish hatred is concealed behind a veneer of education, moral superiority, and political correctness.
