Edtstadler Regrets Increasing Polarization Due to Protests Against Rosenkranz
Der Standard (Max Stepan), November 11, 2024
German original: https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000244339/edtstadler-bedauert-zunehmende-polarisierung-wegen-protests-gegen-rosenkranz
Measures to protect Jews are to be evaluated in the Forum against Anti-Semitism. Thirty-eight of 41 measures from the National Strategy have already been implemented.
Vienna - Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) wants to devote herself to the fight against anti-Semitism in the final phase of her term of office - she no longer wants to be part of a new government. On Monday, the National Forum against Anti-Semitism (NFA) met for the first time as part of the National Strategy against Anti-Semitism in 2022.
The forum consists of representatives from the federal government, the federal states and civil society institutions, among others. Its purpose is to discuss current developments and projects. According to Edtstadler, the “worrying developments in Europe” will also be a topic. On Thursday evening, for example, there were violent riots against Israeli fans in Amsterdam after the soccer match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The NFA also discussed the evaluation of the National Strategy against Anti-Semitism, which was presented in 2021. A total of 41 measures were set out in the strategy, 38 of which have already been implemented, according to Edtstadler. These include an amendment to the Prohibition Act and a law against hate speech online.
A documentation center for the prevention and combating of anti-Semitism is still being worked on, as are teacher training and continuing education programs for teachers in this area, and the supplementation and strengthening of basic training courses for the general administrative service and the executive service.
Protest against Rosenkranz
The topic of the forum will probably also be the action against the President of the National Council, Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ), which took place at the weekend: the Jewish Students' Union prevented a wreath-laying ceremony and commemoration of the FPÖ politician at the Shoah Wall of Names. In general, a number of Jewish representatives are critical of the new President of the National Council because of Rosenkranz's membership of a fraternity.
In any case, the protest is legitimate, “it is always necessary that freedom of expression against persons or parties may be expressed,” said Edtstadler on Monday. However, it is a shame that “there is only black and white and no more shades of gray and that we live in such a polarized society. It is time that we stood together again as a society,” said Edtstadler.
The president of the Jewish Community Vienna (IKG), Oskar Deutsch, was even more outspoken: “The decision of the Jewish Students' Union must be accepted. It is simply not possible to be a member of a fraternity and participate in this commemoration in a way that attracts media attention.”
Third meeting already
The NFA met for the third time. Last year, the forum agreed, for example, to increase the visible presence of security forces around Jewish institutions. On Monday, extremism expert Ahmad Mansour, among others, spoke at the NFA. Edtstadler hopes that the initiatives against anti-Semitism will continue even after her time in government. (Max Stepan, 11/11/2024)