Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has described an “explosion of antisemitism” in Europe and Germany following the attack by the Islamist group Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023. He expressed his shock, stating, “What we are experiencing today is something I could not have imagined in my nightmares in 2014.”
Schuster noted that the percentage of people in Germany with anti-Jewish sentiments, around 20 percent, has not changed significantly. However, he observed a disturbing shift: “Many who previously did not dare to openly express their antisemitism now feel emboldened to do so,” he explained. “People are saying whatever they think. There are no longer any barriers. These 20 percent are very vocal—and some are even willing to use violence.”
Schuster also expressed concern about the growing influence of extremist political parties in Germany and their potential impact on Jewish life. “If extremist parties gain significant influence within the government, life in Germany could become impossible for Jews,” he warned.
Schuster also criticised the media’s portrayal of the Gaza conflict, particularly by public broadcasters. “Images, in general, but especially those from the Middle East, have a greater emotional impact than words,” he said. He emphasised his equal sympathy for all victims of violence, whether Israeli or Palestinian, stating, “I feel just as sorry for every injured person in Gaza as I do for an injured Israeli.”
However, Schuster was critical of the way images were selected for media coverage. “It is often forgotten that these people are being deliberately used as human shields by Hamas,” he said. “Terrorist headquarters and launch pads are being set up beneath residential buildings, hospitals, and schools. Many of these buildings are no longer used for this purpose, yet the reports still describe these places as ‘attacked schools’.” He also expressed concern about adopting the narratives of terrorist groups.
Schuster argued that criticism of Israel’s military actions is not inherently antisemitic, provided it does not fall into specific harmful patterns. He referred to the “three-D” test, which he recommended for identifying antisemitic rhetoric: “Legitimate criticism of Israel becomes problematic when Israel is demonised, when double standards are applied to Israel that are not applied to other countries, or when Israel’s right to exist as a state is denied.”
