Faced with the sheer scale and ferocity of the violence, it’s often hard to do much but look on in horror and outrage. We had the shocking brutality of Hamas’s terror attack, and then the unyielding and indiscriminate cruelty of Israel’s response — which, one month on, shows no sign of abating. Here in Germany, the horror and outrage are only intensified by the callous response from the country’s political class and a stunted, dangerous public discourse. Both are serving to silence Palestinians — and actively make life less safe for Jews, in Germany and abroad.

Leading figures in Germany’s ruling coalition like Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck have rushed to assert that Israel’s security is part of the Federal Republic’s raison d’être, highlighting the central role Israel plays in its understanding of both Judaism and antisemitism. Both in the context of the war in Gaza and the domestic discourse within Germany, antisemitism is equated with criticism of Israel; Germany officially defines manifestations of “hatred” toward Israel as antisemitic.

German politicians have been tripping over themselves to take as tough a stance as possible. Even as Israeli bombardment had already killed thousands of Palestinian children, Scholz was unashamed to claim Israel is “guided by very humanitarian principles” and that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would certainly abide by international law. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock argues that Germany’s abstention in a vote on the United Nations’ proposed cease-fire was warranted due to a “lack of balance” in the resolution. She was met with widespread criticism in Germany for abstaining, rather than voting directly against the cessation of hostilities.