German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday marked the upcoming first anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel, promising that Germany would “never tolerate” anti-Semitism while concentrating its efforts on a ceasefire in the Middle East.
In a video published online, Scholz said he would never be able to 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.
One year later, Scholz said it was unacceptable for “citizens of the Jewish faith to live in Germany in fear and terror,” to be worried about wearing a kippa – the term for a Jewish skullcap – in public, or to avoid telling schoolmates of their background.
“Jewish people here in Germany have 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 connections to the region are extremely worried.
Scholz again called for a ceasefire, for the protection of civilians in Gaza and the release of remaining Israeli hostages.
He also warned that the conflict is at risk of becoming a regional conflagration, but said that Germany is coordinating 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 pathway to a negotiated two-state solution is indispensable to a viable resolution of the conflict,” Scholz concluded.
Baerbock describes October 7 as pivotal
Scholz’s comments were mirrored 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 Germany’s Bild newspaper, Baerbock said the incident marked a turning point, with a clear “before” and “after.”
The foreign minister also said she was embarrassed by anti-Semitic behaviour in Germany, including a rise in attacks on Jewish citizens and celebrations on German streets when Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel.
“We oppose this. With the full force of the law,” Baerbock emphasized. Addressing the people of Israel, she said, “We stand with you.”
The foreign minister added that Israel’s security is part of Germany’s Staatsräson, a term referring to the German national interest.
“Israel has a right to self-defence. Against the violence of Hamas as well as 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 into the Gaza Strip.
The massacre was the trigger for the war in Gaza, in which roughly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, according to the Gaza health authority in the territory, about one-third of them children and young people.
In recent weeks, the conflicts between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon have also escalated.
There are fears that the entire region could be drawn into a catastrophic war.
