Antisemitism in Germany, and the CDU's search for answers
Key takeaways
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU party has been struggling to find the right words on how it intends to protect Jewish life in the capital.
- Spray paint seems to have long since conquered the city.
- The words were quickly covered and then painted over — yet the message still shows through if you look closely (top photo).
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU party has been struggling to find the right words on how it intends to protect Jewish life in the capital. A recent declaration does not go far beyond calling for "a clear stance."
https://p.dw.com/p/5DURM'Against all antisemitism' reads a message of solidarity on a street in Berlin Image: Christoph Strack/DWAdvertisement Berlin is a city full of graffiti: Colorful and loud, imaginative, annoying, and often political. Spray paint seems to have long since conquered the city. Yet on April 11 this year, three large words sprayed across the side of a building in the district of Prenzlauer Berg, calling in English for the killing of all Jews, provoked outrage and shock.
The words were quickly covered and then painted over — yet the message still shows through if you look closely (top photo). True to Berlin's character, civil society responded: Residents held a vigil. Blue‑and‑white ribbons now hang from lampposts and traffic signs, bearing the words "Against all antisemitism" beside a Star of David.