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In view of the current situation, the synagogue of the Offenbach Jewish community on Kaiserstrasse is under special protection. © Christian Reinartz
Demonstrations, violence against police officers, a failed attack on a synagogue: the Middle East conflict and its latest escalation have arrived in Germany. Also in Offenbach? An approach.
Offenbach – Demonstrations with violent riots, an increase in anti-Semitic crimes and even direct attacks on Jewish institutions such as the attempted arson attack on a synagogue in Berlin – the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas has long since reached Germany. Does this also apply to Offenbach?
Urban statistics do not paint a clear picture
The fact is: with a proportion of 65.8 percent people with a migrant background, Offenbach is by far the first in the ranking of major German cities (second place: Pforzheim with 58.5 percent). When asking the city administration, several blind spots become apparent: On the one hand, it is clear that Israeli citizenship or an Israeli migration background does not automatically mean that a person is of Jewish faith – and vice versa. As of March 31, 61 people in the population register had Israeli citizenship. At the end of 2022, the city of Offenbach had 524 people of Jewish faith, of whom 378 had German citizenship and 146 did not. However, the Jewish community in Offenbach is significantly larger – according to an insider, around 1,000 members – which is due to the fact that people from other places of residence also belong to it.
Things get even more complicated when you look at people from the Palestinian territories. Because: The state of Palestine is not internationally recognized by a number of states – including Germany. The result: People from the Palestinian territories are usually considered stateless in the nationality statistics – in Offenbach alone there are 117 people who have the status “unsettled” in the nationality register – or have citizenship of other states because they or their ancestors lost their status in the course of the Middle East conflict For example, they fled there and became naturalized. According to Daniel Muth, President of the Southeast Hesse Police Headquarters, the number of Hamas supporters in Hesse is estimated to be in the low double digits.
Protective measures for Jewish institutions “at a permanently high level”
In addition, the Jewish community does not only consist of the Jewish community, which also has its own daycare center. There is also the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation and the Max Dienemann/Salomon Formstecher Society, which educates and helps shape Jewish life in Offenbach in the past and present through events, publications, the establishment of memorials and historical research work.
In view of current developments in other cities, the protective measures for Jewish institutions are “at a consistently high level,” explains Felix Geis, press spokesman for the police headquarters in Southeast Hesse. There are individual concepts for affected facilities that are particularly effective when people are in the buildings. In addition, we are constantly in “trusting and close communication with those responsible” to ensure safety. There is also an exchange with other authorities if there is information that requires preventive measures. The situation is “dynamic” and the police are constantly adapting their measures accordingly.
Stolen Israel flag in Offenbach is the only crime so far
But it is also a fact: In contrast to anti-Semitic crimes in other German cities, there has so far only been one in the city and district of Offenbach: the Israel flag at the town hall was stolen shortly after it was raised. In addition, two vehicles with Palestine flags were reported in Obertshausen and then checked. However, no crimes were found here. There have not yet been any registrations for meetings or demonstrations in Offenbach.
No increase in crimes
Anti-Semitic incidents have been increasing in Germany since Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel and Israel’s response with attacks on the Gaza Strip. This is shown by a report by the Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Research and Information Centers, which was published on Wednesday. Accordingly, 202 anti-Semitic incidents related to the current conflict were registered between October 7th and 15th. In the same period last year there were “only” 59 incidents.
There are no current figures in the area of the police headquarters in Southeast Hesse. According to figures from the State Criminal Police Office, ten anti-Semitic crimes were registered for 2022, six of which were incitement to hatred, three times the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, and one case of damage to property. Nine cases can be assigned to the right-wing spectrum, only one should be viewed against the background of the Middle East conflict. In 2021 and 2020 the numbers were higher: in 2021 there were 19 anti-Semitic crimes (14 acts of incitement, two uses of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, two threats and one libel), in 2020 there were 18 crimes (10 acts of incitement, two uses of marks of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations). terrorist organizations, two insults, two physical injuries as well as one threat and one damage to property) were registered. At that time, all but one case could be assigned to the right-wing spectrum.
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