Do more immigrants bring more hatred of Jews to Germany? Jens Spahn thinks yes and is also concerned about other groups in society.
On the 85th anniversary of the pogrom night against Jews, Markus Lanz spoke to his guests on Thursday about anti-Semitism in Germany. The issue of Muslim immigration quickly came into focus.
Many refugees come from countries where anti-Semitism “is part of everyday culture,” explained CDU politician Jens Spahn. He made it clear that this cultural influence is not lost when you cross the German border.
The guests
Jens Spahn, CDU politicianPetra Pinzler, “Zeit” journalistKubilay Dertli, skilled worker recruiterPhilipp Peyman Engel, editor-in-chief of the “Jüdische Allgemeine”
With a view to pro-Palestinian demonstrations, where anti-Semitic things were chanted, Spahn called for tougher action. Law and order must be implemented, he explained. “We notice that something is eroding.”
Spahn calls for tougher action
Thousands of people gathered there, showed posters and chanted pro-Palestinian slogans. Several men climbed the Fountain of Neptune to raise the Palestinian flag. The police arrested 68 people and 36 investigations were initiated.
“I sometimes have the impression that the water cannons were used more quickly by the Corona pensioners,” said Spahn, referring to incidents like this. He posed the question: Would we have allowed this if it had been right-wing radicals? His answer: “I don’t know.”
Anti-Semitism in Germany
Whether from right-wing, left-wing or Muslim anti-Semites: On Thursday, the editor-in-chief of the “Jüdische Allgemeine”, Philipp Peyman Engel, drew a picture of what Jews in Germany experience every day.
He reported on fellow believers who no longer dared to converse in Hebrew in the Berlin subway, Jews who hid their yarmulkes under hats and more and more subscribers who are asking to read the “Jüdische Allgemeine” in a neutral language Envelope to be delivered.
In line with Spahn, Engel explained: “For far too long, Muslim hatred of Jews has been taboo in Germany.” However, the editor-in-chief also made it clear that one should not generalize. Anti-Semitism in Germany has many sides, including German right-wing extremism, said Engel.
Spahn: Uncontrolled migration endangers democracy
According to Spahn, the key to a healthy democracy lies in solving the problem of irregular migration to Germany. Whether the democratic center manages to bring irregular migration under control will decide the “question of the existence of democracy,” he predicted.
The insecurity in society caused by uncontrolled migration means that people are less open, explained Spahn. Minorities would feel this first. “That worries me, especially as a gay man,” said the Union parliamentary group vice-president. Spahn did not consider the measures to limit migration that the federal and state governments announced at the beginning of the week after a summit in Berlin to be sufficient.
Among other things, the federal-state resolution provides for better protection of Europe’s external borders, faster asylum procedures and returns, as well as a nationwide payment card.
Spahn distances himself from Frauke Petry
All of this was “not wrong,” explained Spahn. However, he also called for irregular migration to be limited “to zero”. If necessary, the rejection of immigrants must also be enforced with physical force, he explained.
By this he means, for example, guarded fences, said the CDU man when asked. He clearly distanced himself from “shoot orders,” as ex-AfD leader Frauke Petry brought them into play in 2016. That was “humbug,” he clarified. It’s more about preventing people from crossing a border, similar to what happens at passport control at the airport.
Headwind from Petra Pinzler
Spahn faced headwinds from “Zeit” journalist Petra Pinzler. Spahn was critical of suggesting that there was a simple solution to the immigration debate. “That’s not how it works,” she clarified. She attributed Spahn’s criticism of the results of the Prime Minister’s Conference to the fact that “he was not at the table.”
She was also bothered by the CDU man’s choice of words and explained that one had to be “terribly careful” with his language. Otherwise it could happen that arguments are passed on to the political fringes.
According to his own statement, Pinzler was “speechless” when faced with Engel’s stories about hatred of Jews in Germany. “I feel sick when I hear that, I thought we had put that behind us,” said the journalist.
Majority wants stronger fight against anti-Semitism
The survey showed that, at 56 percent, more than half of those surveyed, efforts to combat anti-Semitism in Germany do not go far enough. 23 percent think it is sufficient, 9 percent think it goes too far.
