The German domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has published two new resources aimed at raising awareness about antisemitism and extremist forms of so-called “Palestine solidarity”, particularly in Berlin.
According to the agency, a hardcore of extremist activists has emerged within parts of the pro-Palestinian scene in the German capital. The BfV stated that demonstrations frequently include anti-Israeli and, in some cases, antisemitic slogans and imagery.
The intelligence service warned that some activists project hostility towards Israel onto Jews more broadly, arguing that negative emotions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are increasingly being transformed into antisemitic narratives.
Among the symbols highlighted by the BfV is the image of a sliced watermelon when used to depict the outline of the State of Israel. The agency also classified the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as extremist, arguing that it implies the elimination of Israel.
In a separate 80-page publication on antisemitic codes and symbols, the BfV examined how antisemitic ideas are often communicated indirectly through memes, images and coded language. One example mentioned is the octopus motif, historically used in antisemitic propaganda to promote conspiracy theories about alleged Jewish global control.
The publication explains that antisemitic narratives function as “bridge narratives”, connecting different extremist milieus including the far right, far left and Islamist movements. The BfV noted that, since the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023, parts of the radical left in Germany have increasingly aligned themselves with what they describe as the “Palestinian liberation struggle”.
The agency said the new materials are intended primarily for teachers, educators and the general public in order to strengthen democratic resilience and improve awareness of hidden forms of antisemitism.
