GERMANY: Munich's Jewish community holds a rally in support of Israel to "wake up society not to leave the streets to a radical mob after France's frightening example"

Record ID: 401273

  • Title: GERMANY: Munich's Jewish community holds a rally in support of Israel to "wake up society not to leave the streets to a radical mob after France's frightening example"
  • Date: 29th July 2014
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (JULY 29, 2014) (REUTERS) GATHERING FOR PRO-ISRAEL RALLY GERMAN, ISRAELI AND BAVARIAN FLAGS DAVID CROSS ON ISRAELI FLAG SIGN READING (German): "Stop the beginnings. Rally against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism" WOMAN COVERED IN ISRAELI FLAG TALKING POLICEMEN WATCHING ISRAELI FLAGS VARIOUS OF HONORARY GUESTS FROM VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS SIGN FROM PLACARD RE
  • Embargoed: 13th August 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABXLGGJKO5XWVQ0IC4ZJQDFOLF
  • Story Text: Some hundred protesters rallied in Munich in support of Israel on Tuesday (July 29).
    Munich's Jewish community called for the demonstration after pro-Palestinian demonstrators jeered anti-Semitic and Islamic slogans last weekend.
    The President of the Munich Council of Jews, Charlotte Knobloch, said that criticism of Israel's politics were entirely legit, but slogans like 'Child Killer Israel' or 'Death to the Jews' were not. She said such words were "pure and cold hatred" and had "no place in our society".

    "The conflict in Mideast is used as a pretence for the hate for jews. The fundamentalists march under many colours. They prove that they despise the values of our liberal society," Knobloch told the rally.
    In a press statement released earlier in the day, Knobloch said: "We must not surrender our streets to a radical mob. We must set a signal in Munich which is to show the world that anti-Semitism in Germany is ostracised in every form."
    Some demonstrators said they came to Munich not to supports Israel's politics in the Mideast but to speak out against anti-Semitism.

    "What I've seen in these demonstrations, some slogans, that were tasteless and offensive. They were racist and anti-Semitic, that has nothing to do with criticism of the state of Israel. It was only offensive, and against the Jewish people all over the world. And not every one of them is responsible for the politics of Israel," said Iris Zimmermann who attended the rally.
    Warnings from Jewish leaders of an "explosion" of anti-Jewish resentments in Germany prompted a backlash from researchers of anti-Semitism, saying the Gaza crisis was a new valve for old anti-Israel and anti-Jewish feeling.
    But police are cautious about intervening, saying that they do not want to take sides or judge what is free speech and what is not.
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