Munich Citizens Form Human Chain Around Synagogue Amid Anti-Israel Protest: A Stand of Courage and Solidarity

Image: Jihad Watch

In a powerful act of solidarity, residents of Munich gathered to form a human chain around the city’s main synagogue at Jakobsplatz on Friday night, as an anti-Israel protest marched through the heart of the city. The peaceful demonstration of support for the Jewish community came at a time of heightened fear, as the protest coincided deliberately with Shabbat prayers.

Approximately 750 individuals had gathered under the banner “Stop the Genocide. Free Palestine,” ostensibly to denounce the war in Gaza. However, what unfolded was far more troubling than a simple political protest. The crowd chanted overtly antisemitic slogans, such as “Death to the IDF,” “Zionists are fascists, child murderers, and racists,” and “There is only one state: Palestine.” These chants reflected not just hostility towards Israel’s policies, but a denial of the very legitimacy of the Jewish state and the right of Jews to exist in peace.

The protest’s timing and location were no coincidence. It was held in the immediate vicinity of the synagogue, during a sacred time of communal prayer. According to reports in German media, the atmosphere became so tense that several members of the Jewish community were unable or unwilling to attend the Shabbat services out of fear. Many saw the protest as a deliberate act of intimidation, aimed not merely at criticizing Israeli policy but at targeting Jews directly.

What made the situation even more chilling was the rhetoric denying the crimes committed by Hamas during its brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Protesters dismissed the widely documented atrocities—including murder, rape, torture, and the taking of civilians as hostages—as fabrications. They even claimed that the hostages held by Hamas were “war criminals,” including infants like Ariel Bibas, age 4, and his baby brother Kfir, just 9 months old, as well as elderly civilians like 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz. These narratives not only rewrite history but dangerously legitimize violence against Jews.

Charlotte Knobloch, a Holocaust survivor and the president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria (IKG), condemned the protest in no uncertain terms. She criticized the local authorities for permitting such a demonstration to take place near the synagogue during a time of worship, calling it a calculated act of provocation. “This was not free speech. This was targeted intimidation,” she said.

However, Knobloch also extended heartfelt thanks to the grassroots groups “Munich is Colorful” and “Grandmothers Against the Right,” who stepped up to form the protective human chain around the synagogue. “Their presence sends a vital message — a message of unity, resistance to hate, and commitment to human dignity,” she said. “They have once again shown that they can be counted on when it truly matters.”

Bernhard Liess, chairman of the Munich City Council, echoed these sentiments, expressing deep concern over the authorities' decision to authorize the protest. He highlighted the insensitivity of allowing such a volatile demonstration to pass by a synagogue on Shabbat — a day meant for peace, reflection, and prayer.

Indeed, the timing was too precise to be accidental. The choice of location and hour indicated a clear intent: to confront the Jewish community during one of its most sacred moments. The synagogue, meant to be a sanctuary, instead became the epicenter of a hostile political spectacle.

This event also highlights a broader and deeply worrying trend. Antisemitic incidents across Germany have surged alarmingly, doubling year-over-year. Berlin, too, has witnessed a disturbing rise, with the first half of 2024 recording as many antisemitic acts as the entire previous year. The normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric and the permissiveness of authorities are pushing European Jewry into a state of anxiety and alienation.

What is desperately needed now is more than symbolic gestures — it is sustained, courageous solidarity. Human chains like the one in Munich must become more frequent and widespread, surrounding synagogues, Jewish schools, kosher restaurants, and any other institutions under threat. These demonstrations must not merely say “I support Israel” or “Am Yisrael Chai.” They must directly confront the ideologies that fuel hatred and violence.

Some argue that counter-protesters should hold up signs that reveal the darker elements of Islamist ideology — not out of hate, but to expose what is often sanitized in public discourse. Citing explicit and accurate quotations from the Qur’an and hadith — such as “Non-Muslims are the most vile of created beings” (Qur’an 98:6), or “When you meet the unbelievers, strike at their necks” (Qur’an 47:4), or even Muhammad’s words in Sahih Bukhari: “I have been made victorious through terror” — could serve as a wake-up call. These texts are real, verifiable, and part of the conversation that needs to happen.

Such bold moves will undoubtedly provoke outrage. But outrage alone cannot erase truth. What matters is ensuring that these facts are presented clearly and accurately, so they can be reported in the media and prompt the public to reflect more critically on the ideologies that inspire violence.

In conclusion, the human chain in Munich was more than an act of empathy. It was a line drawn against intimidation, hatred, and the rewriting of truth. In a Europe where antisemitism is re-emerging with frightening speed, such acts are no longer optional — they are essential. The silence of the past must not be repeated. Now is the time for people of conscience to stand tall, to protect their neighbors, and to push back against the forces that threaten the very fabric of a free and tolerant society.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)