Ofarim: "I hope something happens" ad

A week ago, a video by the musician Gil Ofarim went online and has since generated strong reactions.

In it he describes an anti-Semitic incident in a Leipzig hotel.

He now wants to file a complaint this Tuesday.

Leipzig - After the outcry about anti-Semitism allegations in a Leipzig hotel, the musician Gil Ofarim called for a change in society.

"I hope that something happens," he told the German press agency on Monday.

The danger is that the debate will fizzle out after a short time.

"What happened to me happens every day in Germany, but often to people who may not have a platform to draw attention to." Those affected are often afraid to get in touch.

He expected his action to make waves, but the extent still surprised him.

He cannot yet assess the consequences for himself.

The police recently escorted him to safety after a performance.

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Ofarim reiterated that he would file a complaint on Tuesday. He was heard as a witness that day by investigators in Munich. The Leipzig public prosecutor did not want to provide any further information on the status of the investigation on Monday. She had several reports of the incident a week ago - also from the hotel employee accused of defamation. According to earlier statements, he describes the events differently than the artist.

A week ago Ofarim described in a video that a hotel employee in Leipzig had asked him to remove his chain with a Star of David. The video has been viewed more than 3.3 million times since then. He describes himself as a secular Jew. The incident sparked outrage and solidarity. The Marriott Group, to which the Leipzig hotel belongs, has expressed its "deep regret" about the incident to Ofarim's management.

Ofarim emphasized that it is not the first time that he has been confronted with anti-Semitism. “Only from the middle of society, in a hotel where people from all over the world are welcomed every day - I've never seen anything like that before.” He doesn't think that the whole hotel and its staff have this attitude. “They are always individual people,” emphasized Ofarim. But such anti-Semitism in society is poison. He would have wished that someone had jumped to his side in the specific situation.

Ofarim vigorously rejected the accusation, often expressed in Internet comments, that he wanted attention.

No one would voluntarily target right-wing beliefs, he emphasized.

Especially not for PR purposes.

The incident in the hotel is not a specific problem for Leipzig, but a social problem in Germany.

“I've been to Leipzig often, I love this city,” said the singer.

“It's a beautiful city, maybe even one of the most beautiful in Germany.” Dpa