Russian-born painter Yury Kharchenko has lived in Berlin for eight years. As he told "Deutsche Welles", he has experienced anti-Semitism throughout his life, but the recent burning of the flag with the Star of David and the anti-Semitic songs have affected him greatly.
"What happened in December at the Brandenburg Gate was really hard for me to swallow," he says, noting that the demonstration, made up mostly of people of Arab origin, happened just one day before the start of Hanukkah, the traditional Jewish holiday. , writes DW, "Koha Ditore" broadcasts.
Although Kharchenko says there is a lot of opposition to Donald Trump's policies, he supports the US president's decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that sparked demonstrations not only in Berlin, but also in many cities around the world.
On the other hand, Berlin-based painter Olaf Kühnemann, who calls himself "100 percent Israeli" and has refused to identify with nation or religious identity, understands why many people have expressed displeasure with the news, which has been warmly welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"It is a cynical resolution that does not take into account the complex situation of Jerusalem and its importance in many religions and cultures," he says, adding that in his opinion, this move does not contribute to the well-being of the people in Israel and Palestine - as neither does the burning. of the flag and antisemitic songs. But he also observed that "people who burn the flags of other nations may have had personal reasons for doing so, rooted in their own life experience."
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"The Israeli flag has a different meaning in Germany"
Kühnemann does not feel that recent events represent a new dimension of anti-Semitism in Germany. However, young photographer Benjamin Reich, who comes from an ultra-Orthodox Israeli family, is still not sure how to perceive the December demonstrations.
"Until now, I have never associated the term 'anti-Semitism' with Palestinians or Arabs in general, since they are all Semites as well. This may have changed now", he adds... (read more today in "Koha Ditore")
