Israel's Envoy to Germany Warns of Real Threat to Jewish Life Amidst Far-Right Surge

Israel's Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, has issued a stark warning regarding the safety of Jewish people in Germany, citing threats from both the far-right and far-left political spectrums. Prosor expressed deep concern over political developments that he believes endanger the Jewish community, stating, "I am alarmed for Jewish life here, which is under a real threat." He specifically pointed to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's record-breaking support in recent elections and the far-left party Die Linke's alleged distribution of incitement materials against Jews and Israelis in Berlin, disguised as legitimate political discourse.

These concerns come in the wake of significant political shifts in Germany. The AfD achieved an unprecedented victory in the state parliamentary elections in Saxony-Anhalt, securing approximately 44.5% of the vote. This marks the first time since World War II that a far-right party has topped the polls in a German state election, raising anxieties among Jewish organizations and the German political establishment about the rise of extremist forces.

Ambassador Prosor emphasized the need for decisive action, declaring, "This is a real alarm. We need action, not just words, against the wild incitement against Jews." He urged German authorities to take concrete steps to address the situation. The growing concern over the far-right's resurgence is also contextualized by recent security challenges in Germany, with the country facing hybrid threats, as previously noted by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière, who stated Germany is a daily target of hybrid warfare.

In the Saxony-Anhalt elections, the AfD candidate for state premier, 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund, made a symbolic gesture by arriving at the polling station on an East German-era motorcycle, expressing optimism about making history. The incumbent Christian Democratic Union, led by State Premier Sven Schulze and supported by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, suffered a significant defeat, coming in second with about 23% of the vote. Die Linke garnered approximately 11.5%, and the Social Democratic Party received only about 8.5%.