German chancellor vows fight on October 7

Chancellor Friedrich Merz marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel by vowing to fight antisemitism in Germany while pressing for a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Antisemitism allegations have become a prominent part of public debate in Germany, involving far-right and far-left parties.

“We are witnessing rising antisemitism in Germany — antisemitism that far too often goes unchallenged,” Merz said, adding that his government “will do everything in its power to resolutely combat antisemitism in all its forms, both new and old”.

“Jewish people must be able to live without fear throughout Germany,” the chancellor said in the statement marking the anniversary of the Hamas attacks in 2023 that set off the Gaza war.

Merz used the occasion to condemn long-standing political opponents in the far-left Die Linke, who have come under repeated attack over connections to pro-Palestinian activists.

Having defeated Merz’s centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) in Berlin’s regional election in September, Die Linke is currently trying to forge a left-wing coalition government.

The chancellor invoked the “horrific terrorist attack” of October 7 to argue that the Greens and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) must shun Die Linke or risk undermining the “non-negotiable principles of our society”.

Die Linke maintains that it takes the fight against antisemitism as seriously as the fight against Islamophobia or homophobia, while also emphasising the need to condemn acts by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.