The split in the Middle East: On Friday, demos also made it visible in Munich.
People took to the streets for Israel on Odeonsplatz, and supporters of Palestine in the station district.
Munich - Solidarity with Israel for peace in the Middle East called for around 250 demonstrators who met on Friday afternoon on Odeonsplatz.
A broad alliance of Jewish associations and organizations against anti-Semitism called for the rally after the situation in the Middle East had escalated in recent days.
"Hamas targets the civilian population indiscriminately, Jews and Arabs in Israel live in fear of the rockets," criticized Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Israelite Community in Munich * and Upper Bavaria.
"It goes without saying that Israel uses its right to self-defense." The alliance shows: "We are at the side of our friends in Israel in these difficult times."
Munich: Protesters demand peace in Israel and Palestine - why doesn't it work?
Almost at the same time as the action on Odeonsplatz, there was a demonstration with up to 600 participants from Theresienwiese to Stachus - under the official motto “In memory of the victims of violence in Israel and Palestine”. Mainly supporters of the Palestinians, who marched through the station district with flags, gathered here. Their loud demand: "Freedom for Palestine". And they too postulated: "We want peace."
According to the police *, both events remained peaceful - unlike a recent demo in Gelsenkirchen, where anti-Semitic slogans were shouted. Anti-Semitic attacks in Germany: That was also the main theme of the Munich demo on Odeonsplatz. Among other things, Bavaria's anti-Semitism commissioner Ludwig Spaenle (CSU) spoke. He says: "When people of the Jewish faith are threatened by a wild mob, there is no justification!"
Spaenle had proposed a prevention concept to the Bavarian cabinet in view of the increasing number of anti-Israel incidents.
Successes against hostility towards Jews and anti-Semitism can only be achieved "only with strong solidarity with Jews, extensive efforts in preventive educational work and sustained repression against violent anti-Semitic criminals," said the anti-Semitism commissioner.
Munich: Mayor Reiter warns of attacks on behalf of the violence in the Middle East
Munich's second mayor, Katrin Habenschaden (Greens), made it clear: "Not an inch of anti-Semitism!" And: "No tolerance towards hatred of Israel." Habenschaden continued: "We will do everything we can to protect Jews in Munich."
Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) * made this clear beforehand.
"That's why I spoke to Munich Police President Thomas Hampel today and he assured me that Jewish institutions are being increasingly protected by the police and gatherings are being closely monitored," Reiter said in a statement.
The mayor clearly stood in front of the Jewish community in Munich.
"Anyone who makes Jews in this city liable for the escalation of violence in the Middle East or even attacks them is anti-Semitic."
Gaza Strip: Injured and dead on both sides - escalation after evictions
The violence in the Middle East continues to escalate: More than 1,800 rockets have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since Monday. The Israeli military responded with retaliatory attacks and attacked a tunnel system run by the radical Islamic Hamas, which ruled the Gaza Strip. There are dead and injured on both sides: Israel reported eight victims on Friday, and the Hamas-led Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip reported more than 120 deaths.
The United Nations called for the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip to be opened to aid deliveries.
Police barriers in Jerusalem, which many Palestinians perceived as humiliation, are considered to be the trigger.
There were also clashes with Palestinians due to evictions by Israeli settlers and clashes on the Temple Mount.
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