The head of police has warned Jews and homosexuals to hide their identities in neighborhoods in Berlin, Germany, with large Arab populations who may be sympathetic to terrorist groups. Berlin Police Chief Barbara Slowik highlighted concerns over areas predominantly inhabited by people of Arab heritage who may have sympathies with anti-Israel groups.
The statement follows an altercation involving pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli football fans in Berlin’s Neukölln district, which has a significant population of people from migrant backgrounds. The incident occurred during an under-17 match involving the Makkabi Berlin youth team, where threats were made with knives and sticks.
Neukölln is also noted for its pro-LGBT nightlife. There have been reports of attacks on gay couples in the area.
Earlier this year, reports indicated that antisemitic incidents in Berlin had hit record levels, increasing by 50 percent in 2023.
In the Netherlands, Israeli football fans faced violence in Amsterdam recently following a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. Anti-Jewish violence erupted on the streets, mirroring the tensions seen in Berlin. Firebrand Dutch populist lawmaker Geert Wilders likened the scenes to a “pogrom,” saying, “We have become the Gaza of Europe. Muslims with Palestinian flags hunting down Jews. I will NOT accept that. NEVER.”
Amid these incidents, Israelis traveling abroad have been advised to avoid disclosing their identity, particularly when visiting countries with significant Muslim migrant populations.
Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, warned in his 2017 book No Go Zones that areas were emerging in Europe—and even America—under de facto Sharia law, with outsiders menaced by locals and law enforcement increasingly beholden to “community leaders” to do their jobs.
Jack Montgomery contributed to this report.
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