Germans Admit Anti-Semitism

From the BBC:
"German anti-Semitism 'deep-rooted' in society"

Anti-Jewish feeling is "significantly" entrenched in German society, according to a report by experts appointed by the Bundestag (parliament). They say the internet has played a key role in spreading Holocaust denial, far-right and extreme Islamist views, according to the DPA news agency. They also speak of "a wider acceptance in mainstream society of day-to-day anti-Jewish tirades and actions". The expert group was set up in 2009 to report regularly on anti-Semitism. The findings of their report were that anti-Jewish sentiment was "based on widespread prejudice, deeply-rooted cliches and also on plain ignorance of Jews and Judaism". Clearly, Germany is a particular case when it comes to anti-Semitism because of its history. Some Jewish groups, though, praise the government for what they see as its unambiguous, loud condemnation. But anti-Semitism remains. One Jewish group in Germany greeted the latest report by saying: "We need new ways of dealing with the past. It is necessary for politicians and the education system in Germany to deal with the National Socialist past." They added that the chanting of far-right slogans at football matches was a regular occurrence. The report's authors put Germany midway in their assessment of other European countries in relation to the spread of anti-Semitism. They see extremely high levels of anti-Jewish sentiment in parts of Poland, Hungary and Portugal. Germany's Jewish population has experienced something of a revival since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Before 1989, the population was below 30,000 but an influx of Jews, mainly from the former Soviet Union, has raised the number to 200,000. Speaking on Friday to mark the anniversary of the 1942 Wannsee conference, when the Nazis' murder of millions of Jews was mapped out, President Christian Wulff pledged that Germany would keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and would never abandon the Jewish people

^ This is not surprising to me in the least after living and travelling around Germany. I'm not saying that every German is an anti-semite, but believe that large majorities (especially in eastern Germany) do not like foreigners and view Jews as foreign. The thing that did surprise me was that the German Government officially admits to the problem. That is the first and best step the country can do if they want to really crack-down on the problem. I hope that the situation improves for everyone - German, Jews and foreigner - within Germany. That won't happen until Germany and the EU fix it's unemployment and financial problems. When people have work and money they tend not to go after groups as scapegoats to their problems (the unemployment in Germany in the 1930s brought the Nazis to power.) ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16678772