Germany is on the brink of a strong rise by the extreme right, according to Paul Spiegel, leader of the country's Jewish community. Spiegel spoke at a ceremony in Gelsenkirchen during which the foundation stone for a new synagogue was laid. The 9th of November is also a symbolic day in Germany as in 1938, the 'Reichskristallnacht' marked the beginning of the Nazis' assault on Jews in what was a prelude to the Holocaust. On 09 November 1989, the Berlin Wall was opened, thus making this date a day of hope and despair at the same time. Pointing to the recent election of a committed neo-Nazi into the far-right NPD's party leadership, Spiegel said such an event would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The Germany Jewish community president urged a round table with government and representatives of civil society to discuss the problem.
