{
  "id": 19265389,
  "title": "Merz says Germany faces historic test over rise in antisemitism",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/merz-says-germany-faces-historic-test-over-rise-in-antisemitism",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T01:28:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/11/10/merz-says-germany-faces-historic-test-over-rise-in-antisemitism"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the country on Monday, declaring that Germany must confront a critical test of its commitment to safeguarding its Jewish community. He lamented the alarming scenes of kindergartens and synagogues under bulletproof glass and protected by armed police. Addressing the Munich synagogue on the 20th anniversary of the infamous Kristallnacht pogrom in 1938, Merz emphasized that antisemitism has become omnipresent. It can be seen and heard on streets, in towns and cities, in European neighbors' towns and cities, in parliaments, clubs, and schools, he stated. This moment marks a pivotal test for the \"Never again\" commitment, he declared. His government, Merz asserted, would employ all measures to protect Jewish life in Germany and globally, and reaffirmed Germany's enduring support for Israel, which he deemed part of the nation's historical duty. Merz echoed previous pledges made by Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor, Olaf Scholz, to safeguard Jewish institutions and combat antisemitism. The Bavarian Parliament Speaker, nominated by Merz as the conservative party's candidate for Germany's first female head of state, expressed deep regret over the insecurity many Jews experience in the country. She called the situation a disgrace for the nation. The recent surge in antisemitic incidents, as reported by monitoring group RIAS, has escalated dramatically since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. A total of 8,725 incidents were recorded last year, a staggering 24 times higher than in 2022 and approximately one case per day. Palestinian authorities report that over 74,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza, initiated following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack that left around 1,200 Israelis dead.",
  "summary": "Chancellor Friedrich Merz says his government will do everything in its power to protect Jewish life in Germany and abroad, reaffirming its longstanding support for Israel.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Merz says Germany faces historic test over rise in antisemitism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/merz-says-germany-faces-historic-test-over-rise-in-antisemitism",
        "published": "2026-11-09T19:46:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}