Two days after the terrifying attack in Halle, my thoughts are still with the city's Jewish community. I am horrified and ashamed by the attack.
The attack on a synagogue in central Germany, where the community had gathered to mark the holiest day, Yom Kippur, attacked the very heart of Germany.
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The attack was not aimed only at the worshippers who were there. It also comprises an attack on our open German society. It was an attack on us all. Because for Germany, the obligation to ensure the security of Jewish men and women is as vital as the friendship between Israel and Germany.
How can it be that Jewish men and women in my native land must once again fear for their lives? As the German ambassador, who has had close ties with Israel for many years, that question does not leave me.
On Wednesday afternoon, 80 members of the Jewish community had gathered in their synagogue in the Paulus neighborhood of Halle. The armed attacker used many different weapons to try and break into the synagogue, but did not succeed. It was fortunate that the door blocked his shots.
During the course of the attack, he fatally shot a woman who was passing by. He livestreamed it all via a helmet camera. German media outlets are reporting that he had been "inspired" by the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. On Wednesday evening, police announced that the perpetrator was a man who held extremist right-wing views and was motivated by racism and anti-Semitism.
I want to emphasize this: The attacker does not represent Germany. The solidarity rally outside the new synagogue in Berlin, in which Chancellor Angela Merkel took part, proves that not only the German government, but the vast majority of Germany's people are staunchly opposed to violent right-wing, anti-Semitic ideologies.
We must all view this horrifying incident as a call for even stronger action against anti-Semitism and right-wing extremism. Extremists must not have any place in our society, and we must protect the lives of the Jews. The sad reality is that we have to further step up security at Jewish institutions in Germany. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has promised to do so.
The German government and many civil society initiatives will continue to fight anti-Semitism and work on behalf of an open, liberal society. In 2020, we will make this a central issue when Germany takes over the presidency of the European Council and the role of chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
In the next few days, 20 Israeli students who were awarded scholarships by the German government will travel to Germany. They will spend a few days with German host families. Despite, and possibly because of, the incidents, they didn't want to cancel their visit. That encourages me and gives me strength.
