NEW YORK – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder hosted German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Thursday at the Neue Galerie in Manhattan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, and thanked him for his dedication to fighting antisemitism.
In their talks, Lauder and Maas voiced mutual concern over the rise of antisemitic activity in Germany and agreed that there was still much work to be done to crack down on neo-Nazi activity and ideology.
“Throughout his career, Minister Maas has been a longstanding and vocal advocate of human rights and a strong player in the fight against racism and antisemitism,” Lauder said, "and for that, we thank you."
“Antisemitism has recently taken a frightening surge across Germany, and members of the Jewish community are sometimes afraid to even openly display their Jewish identity,” Lauder said. Referring to the recent neo-Nazi rallies in Chemnitz and Dortmund, Lauder added: “We cannot stand idly by as neo-Nazis feel empowered and confident to spread their message of violence and hatred.”
“The German government, including Minister Maas, has proven their commitment to monitoring and combating antisemitism, but there is still much work to be done, and a serious need to penalize incitement and crack down on neo-Nazi activity.”
Lauder also praised Foreign Minister Maas for his own efforts to combat antisemitism, including his proposed legislation last year, as justice minister, to fight hate speech online, and said: “Minister Maas is a true friend of Israel and of Jewish communities worldwide, and we look forward to building on this relationship and striving together for the well-being of the Jewish community in Germany,” Lauder said.
