Cooperation to combat anti-Semitism
The U.S. Embassy discusses cooperation between the United States and Germany
July 13th, 2018Ambassador Richard A. Grenell met with Dr. Felix Klein to discuss cooperation to combat anti-Semitism.
Angela Merkel warned against different types of anti-Semitism in Germany in her speech in April 2018. Refugees or people of Arab origin bring a different type of anti-Semitism into the country. She recognizes the preceding existence of anti-Semitism. According to preliminary police statistics, at least 1,421 anti-Semitic crimes were committed in 2017, which is a decline in comparison to 1,434 anti-Semitic crimes committed in 2016. However, anti-Semitic incidents appear to have been rising.
According to the University of Bielefeld study, many German Jews have expressed feelings of fear and intimidation caused by threat of assault or harassment. Furthermore, over 60 percent of respondents have considered emigration in the last five years because of feeling unsafe.
An audit report by the Anti-Defamation League demonstrates that anti-Semitic incidents in the United States of America increased by 86 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. Similarly to Germany, the United States is experiencing a resurgence of nationalism and white supremacist movements. Both countries combat the existence of anti-Semitism in schools and its presence in current culture, such as Farid Bang and Kollegah’s latest album featuring anti-Semitic lyrics.
In the United States, following the violence in Charlottesville, a joint resolution S.J.Res.49 became a law. Furthermore, President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. On the other hand, Career Diplomat Dr. Felix Klein was appointed Germany’s first Federal Commissioner to Combat Anti-Semitism. The United States of America and Germany expressed their will to cooperate to combat anti-Semitism. Ambassador Richard A. Grenell met with Dr. Felix Klein to discuss cooperation to combat anti-Semitism and to recognize the importance of highlighting the Jewish contributions to German society.