(Deutsche Welle) There have been many reports about anti-Semitism in Berlin over the past year or so, ranging from the story of a Jewish youth bullied out of his high school to accounts of an Israeli symbol being burned at a Palestinian demonstration. Now the city has responded with a 63-page plan — the first of its kind in Germany — on how to combat hatred of Jews.
What may at first look like a cosmetic symbol aimed at countering some bad PR for the German capital is justified by the country’s federal structure. As Berlin Senator for Justice and Anti-Discrimination Dirk Behrendt explains, education and law enforcement are the responsibility of Germany regional states. Thus it makes sense for a city-state to take the lead on combating the problem.
At the same time, he acknowledges that rising numbers of anti-Semitic incidents in Berlin set alarm bells ringing.
