Anti-Semitism in Germany - A Central Challenge for State and Society

Panel discussion on May 24 2009 at 11.00 am at the Centrum Judaicum, Oranienburger Straße 28-30, 10117 Berlin. 

Speakers are MP Kristina Köhler (CDU), Secretary of State (ret.) Klaus Faber (Coordination Council of German NGO’s against anti-Semitism) and Jörg Rensmann (Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin).

Anti-Semitism has consolidated in Germany at a high level. There are indicators for a significant growing attendance to express anti-Jewish resentments publicly. New forms of hostility towards Jews have just recently come out, whereas particularly the hostility against Israel or the anti-Zionist anti-Semitism is to be emphasized. Anti-Semitism is not only to be found along with radically right-wing political actors, left anti-Zionists and "anti-imperialists". It is also an important motive of Islamism. Who are the supporters of this delusional world view in Germany? Have civil society and scientific institutions reacted adequately to the new and old challenges up to now? What could a promising strategy be?

The panel discussion about these and other relevant questions of the context takes place in cooperation with Scholars for Peace in the Middle East – German section (SPME), the Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin (MFFB), the Jewish Forum for Democracy and against anti-Semitism (JFDA), the Coordination Council of German NGOs against anti-Semitism and Honestly Concerned. The panel discussion is moderated by Ulrike Becker (Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin).