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Antisemitism ‘everywhere’ in German universities, Student Union president tells Post - interview

From Jerusalem Post · (7m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Ron Dekel, president of the Jewish Students’ Union of Germany, states that antisemitism is pervasive in German universities, making it impossible for Jewish students to study without facing it.
  • Dekel recounts two recent incidents: being harassed by women shouting anti-Israel slogans and later being confronted by one of them outside a synagogue.
  • Despite reporting the incidents, Dekel notes the woman claims provocation, highlighting a broader issue of antisemitism affecting young Jews across Germany.

The Jewish Students’ Union of Germany (JSUD) president, Ron Dekel, has issued a stark warning: antisemitism is not just a fringe issue but a pervasive reality within German universities, creating an untenable environment for Jewish students. His recent personal experiences, including being targeted with hateful rhetoric and intimidation just meters from the Bundestag and later outside a synagogue, serve as a chilling illustration of this alarming trend.

It’s not possible right now for German students to study in a German university without facing antisemitism.

— Ron DekelDescribing the pervasive nature of antisemitism in German universities.

Dekel's account of being followed and verbally abused by women shouting "F**k Israel, free Palestine" is deeply disturbing. The fact that one of these individuals later confronted him directly, threatening legal action over a viral video of the incident, demonstrates a brazen disregard for personal safety and a disturbing escalation of harassment. The subsequent attempt to enter the synagogue where Dekel was seeking refuge, thwarted only by a police presence, underscores the severity of the threat.

F**k Israel, free Palestine

— Unknown womenShouted at Ron Dekel and his colleague from a car.

What is particularly concerning is the alleged claim of provocation by the perpetrator, a narrative that unfortunately echoes a pattern of minimizing or deflecting blame when antisemitic incidents occur. Dekel's assertion that this is not an isolated event but a constant reality for German Jews, especially young ones, across the country, demands serious attention. The JSUD's experience shows that this problem extends far beyond major cities, affecting students nationwide.

Take down the video, I’m suing you.

— Unknown womanConfronting Ron Dekel outside a synagogue.

From our perspective in Germany, these incidents are not merely isolated acts of hate but symptoms of a deeper societal malaise that we must confront head-on. While international coverage often focuses on statistics, the lived experience of Jewish students – the fear, the intimidation, the feeling of being unsafe in educational institutions – is what truly matters. We must ensure that our universities are safe havens for all students, free from prejudice and discrimination, and that those who perpetrate such acts are held accountable.

This kind of thing just happens constantly to German Jews in general, especially to young Jews.

— Ron DekelCommenting on the frequency of antisemitic incidents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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