Monday marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and this date has been declared International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the UN General Assembly. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on 27 January, people remember the six million Jews and millions of other victims of Nazi persecution during the Second World War.
A commemorative ceremony is being held in the Polish town of Auschwitz on Monday to mark 80 years since the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp. Polish President Andrzej Duda is taking part in the event, alongside some survivors, while British King Charles III, Czech President Petr Pavel, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have also arrived.
The main event started at 4 pm in front of the historic gate of the former camp. Survivors, official delegations and other participants gathered in a large tent that partially covers the original structure of the site.
But Jewish groups are sounding the alarm about rising anti-Semitism worldwide. Commissioner for anti-Semitism in Berlin Sigmount Königsberg says Jew-hatred is a chameleon and that he doesn't feel as safe in Germany as he did 20 years ago.
"There are no longer any Jewish events, not even Jewish puppet shows for children, that are not protected by the police," he says, pointing to the airport security guard at the entrance to the synagogue where he was interviewed by Euronews.
Meanwhile, earlier this month. a survey by the American Anti-Defamation League found that one in twelve adults in Germany and 46 % adults worldwide hold strongly anti-Semitic views.
"We are under attack - we are under attack by the friends of Hamas, the extreme left, the so-called anti-fascists and Islamists. We are also under attack from the far right. Political groups that are otherwise bitterly opposed to each other and even fighting each other are uniting in anti-Semitism. This is happening in our country with a ferocity and intensity that we have never seen before. This is the reality and it has reached a point where it is becoming very difficult. There are people who, just a few years ago, were openly expressing their Jewish identity, but today they no longer do so," He added.
Königsberg says anti-Semitic myths have always persisted: "Today, for example, people say 'Zionist' instead of 'Jew', but ultimately it amounts to the same prejudice." He also refers to conspiracy theories surrounding the Rothschild family.
According to the German Interior Ministry, the number of anti-Semitic attacks in Germany will reach a new record in 2024. Königsberg reports that since the Hamas militant group's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, followed by a 15-month war that was halted after a ceasefire agreement this month, there have been "a massive attack on Jewish life, especially in Berlin".
"The complacency of the majority of society, which calls itself democratic, must end. Evil thrives when good people cannot stand up to it. Leaving hatred unchecked only strengthens it. When those who spread hate face no restraints, they feel emboldened to continue."
The role of social media
Königsberg partly blames social media, where hate speech often goes unchecked, especially after the decision by several social media companies, such as X, run by Elon Musk, and Meta, run by Mark Zuckerberg, to curtail fact-checking efforts. This, he says, also leads to polarization of the population, such as during the pandemic when untruths about Jews and COVID-19 were spread on social media.
"Social media also reinforces this danger by reducing complex topics to short soundbites and simple slogans without in-depth analysis and meaningful answers. This is exactly what the AfD (Alternative for Germany) is doing - offering simplistic solutions. But these solutions are outdated, dating back to the 1940s and 1950s, and do not address the complexities of the 21st century." He says.
Königsberg also believes that extremist parties are taking advantage of this and reinforcing prejudice against Jews.
"The AfD has dramatically intensified political discourse and made acceptable statements that were previously considered unspeakable because they were offensive. Provocation and scandal have become part of a political strategy where the goal is not substantive arguments but rather sensationalism."
According to Königsberg, however, the AfD is only part of the problem.
"The political climate here has, of course, intensified significantly over the past 15 years. This is not a development that has occurred only in the last two years, but has gradually worsened over a longer period of time. Political discourse rarely takes place anymore. Instead of exchanging arguments, people rigidly stick to predefined positions, either A or B, and neither side engages in meaningful dialogue." He says.
He calls for greater tolerance and for both sides of the political divide to listen and think calmly. Königsberg believes that the ability to see things from the other's point of view is in Germany "relatively underdeveloped".
How can we eradicate anti-Semitism?
To deal with anti-Semitism and its associated conspiracy myths, "we have to reach people on an emotional level," He says, stressing that although it is challenging and requires a lot of resources, it is important to try to reach individuals emotionally.
"This effort requires confronting anti-Semitic narratives not only in traditional family stories, but also on social media and online platforms. These platforms carry unfiltered anti-Semitic content in a variety of languages - German, English, French, Arabic and others," Königsberg adds.
"The internet has become a breeding ground for hatred. Previously, such statements could be confined to small meetings in pubs, for example, where only a handful of people heard them. Now a post on X or Instagram can instantly reach thousands or tens of thousands of people. Even if people don't like or share the content, they still see it and that visibility matters. Systematic repetition reinforces anti-Semitic narratives," he explains.
Combating hate speech requires efforts on many fronts, such as education, media reform and internet regulation - a "Sisyphean task", Königsberg concludes, which requires "enormous effort and continuous work".
euronews/ gnews - RoZ
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