Ahead of Kristallnacht, Germany vows to fight anti-Semitism
Lawmaker: Revival of Jewish life in Germany "borders on a miracle."
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFKristallnacht 224.88(photo credit: AP)
Germany's parliament pledged to fight anti-Semitism and to encourage the revival of Jewish life in a resolution Tuesday ahead of the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
The lower house renewed its commitment to "counter with determination every form of anti-Jewish hatred and anti-Semitism." It said that "strong and varied" Jewish life enriches Germany and Europe.
It urged the government to "continue intensively politically supporting and protecting Jewish life in Germany in all in forms," to expand teaching in schools on Jewish life and on Israel, and to set up a group of experts that would issue a regular report on anti-Semitism.
"With this crime [of Kristallnacht], Germany robbed itself of one of its major cultural roots, since Jewish religion and Jewish culture are an integral part of German history and German society," Hans-Peter Uhl, a lawmaker with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc, told lawmakers. He said the revival of Jewish life in Germany "borders on a miracle."
However, he said that "anti-Semitism unfortunately is not a closed chapter in German history."
Lawmakers from all five parties in parliament supported the resolution in a show of hands.
