German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for civic action to fight anti-Semitism following a wave of incidents this summer.
Merkel, speaking Sept. 6 on her weekly podcast on the Internet, urged the public to attend a national rally Sunday, Sept. 14 at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate under the banner of “Stand up! Say no to anti-Semitism.”
“I will personally do everything I can, as will my entire government, to ensure that anti-Semitism doesn’t have a chance in our country,” Merkel said.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany, which organized the rally, said last week that German Federal President Joachim Gauck will speak there.
Several anti-Semitic incidents, including verbal and physical attacks, were reported this summer in Germany. Most occurred during anti-Israel protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.
In the podcast, Merkel focused on the attacks and said she was extremely concerned that virtually all Jewish institutions in Germany require police protection. She said because of Germany’s responsibility for crimes against humanity during World War II, the country has a special duty to stand up against hate and for democracy. — jta