German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday marked the upcoming first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, vowing that Germany would “never tolerate” anti-Semitism as it focused its efforts on a ceasefire in the Middle East.
In a video published online, Scholz said he could never forget his visit to Israel last October, when he met relatives of those killed or taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the unprecedented terrorist attacks.
A year later, Scholz said it was unacceptable that “citizens of the Jewish faith in Germany live in fear and terror,” worrying about wearing a yarmulke – the term for a Jewish skullcap – in public, or avoiding to tell classmates about their background.
“Jewish people here in Germany enjoy the full solidarity of our state, and the solidarity of all decent people in our country,” Scholz added.
Amid the escalation of fighting in the Middle East in recent weeks, the chancellor said he understood that many residents with ties to the region are deeply concerned.
Scholz again called for a ceasefire for the protection of civilians in Gaza and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.
He also warned that the conflict risks becoming a regional conflagration, but said Germany was working with international partners to prevent further escalation.
“On the first anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel, peace and reconciliation seem further away than ever in the Middle East. But we do know this: a credible path to a negotiated two-state solution is essential for a viable solution to the problem. conflict,” Scholz concluded.
Baerbock describes October 7 as crucial
Scholz’s comments were echoed by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who on Sunday described the October 7 attacks as a pivotal moment in both Jewish and German history.
In an article for the Sunday edition of the German newspaper Bild, Baerbock said the incident marked a turning point, with a clear ‘before’ and ‘after’.
The foreign minister also said she was ashamed of the anti-Semitic behavior in Germany, including an increase in attacks on Jewish citizens and celebrations on German streets as Iran fired a barrage of missiles into Israel.
“We oppose this. With the full force of the law,” Baerbock emphasized. She addressed the people of Israel and said, “We stand with you.”
The Foreign Minister added that Israel’s security is part of the German Staatsräson, a term referring to Germany’s national interest.
“Israel has the right to self-defense. Against the violence of Hamas and against the rocket terror of Iran and Hezbollah,” she added.
On October 7, militants from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and abducted about 250 others as hostages to the Gaza Strip.
The massacre sparked the war in Gaza, in which about 42,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, about a third of whom are children and young people, according to the Gaza health authority.
Conflicts between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon have also escalated in recent weeks.
There are fears that the entire region could become embroiled in a catastrophic war.