Scholz Expresses Anger Over Surge in Antisemitism in Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his "anger over a recent wave of antisemitism in Germany" and warned that "his country will not tolerate hatred against Jews," coinciding with the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht. This term refers to a Nazi program that witnessed the destruction of Jewish property and establishments in Germany and Austria by Nazis. Scholz made these remarks beside Jewish leaders at a ceremony held in a synagogue in Berlin, one of a thousand that were destroyed or damaged in the two countries during Kristallnacht. The same synagogue was attacked with incendiary bombs amid a rise in antisemitic incidents following the recent escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas since October 7. He noted that "migrants need to understand Germany's duty to combat antisemitism and that Israel has the right to defend itself against what he described as Hamas's brutal actions," and emphasized that "the government will continue to exert every effort to rescue those held by Hamas."