A few weeks ago, the debate about antisemitism in Germany and Europe flared up once again. The fuel this time came from an unusual source: an as-yet unbroadcast film on antisemitism in Europe, commissioned by public broadcasters WDR and ARTE, whose content and framing set off a political quarrel long before its airing.
Why this debate matters
Antisemitism is not an ordinary political controversy – it is a question of historical responsibility, especially in Germany. Any serious treatment must distinguish carefully: criticism of Israeli government policy is not antisemitism; denial of Israel's right to exist, or of Jewish collective life, is. Where this distinction blurs, the debate serves everyone except its purpose.
The affair around the film exposed a double failure: media houses that commission sensitive productions but cannot communicate them transparently, and political actors who use every incident as ammunition in a permanent culture war. Both trends damage the one thing the fight against antisemitism needs most – credibility.
Jewish life as the measure
The real yardstick is the everyday reality of Jewish life in Europe: security at schools and synagogues, hatred online, but also the self-evident presence of Jewish communities in the public sphere. Fighting antisemitism means protecting this life – not merely scoring points in editorial battles.
A society that takes its historical responsibility seriously must be able to hold two thoughts at once: unconditional protection of Jewish life, and a sober, analytical view of the Middle East conflict that does not suspect every critic of antisemitism nor allow antisemites to hide behind political criticism. Only this double clarity keeps the debate worthy of its subject.
