Munich citizens form human chain around synagogue to protect from pro-Palestine rally - Mathilda Heller

 

by Mathilda Heller

The pro-Palestine rally was given permission to travel right past the main synagogue in the city, posing a threat to the Jewish community.

 

Protestors take part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Berlin, April 6, 2024.

(photo credit: Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

 

Several hundred people formed a human chain around a Munich synagogue to protect the Jewish community from a mass pro-Palestinian protest in a moving show of solidarity.

The Friday pro-Palestinian rally, organized by the group Palestine Speaks, was given permission to travel right past the city’s main synagogue, posing a threat to the Jewish community. The protesters shouted “Death to the IDF” and waved Palestinian flags, according to footage from the rally.

According to the Jewish Forum for Democracy and Against Antisemitism, “Hamas terror was glorified as ‘Palestinian resistance,’ and German, Israeli, and French hostages held by the Islamist terror group were denounced as ‘war criminals.’”

Mehrere hundert Menschen schützen in München „ihre“ Synagoge mit einer Mahnwache, nachdem die vom Verfassungsschutz beobachtete Gruppierung „Palästina spricht“ ausgerechnet an Schabbat und in unmittelbarer Nähe zum Jakobsplatz zu einer „Marschdemo“ aufgerufen hatte. pic.twitter.com/lE3pW8eNst

— Sandra Demmelhuber (@SDemmelhuber) July 18, 2025

The Munich Police Department provided increased security for the synagogue, assigning 150 officers from the Protection Division, the Special Support Command, and the mounted police unit to the scene. It also set up barricades and checkpoints to control access to the area.

However, the police weren’t alone. Hundreds of locals from various groups showed up in force to form a human chain. One of the groups – München Ist Bunt – posted ahead of time on Facebook: “We protect our synagogue! Join the human chain against antisemitism.” The protesters were joined by a musician who sang, “Stick together against hatred of Jews throughout the country.”

Sister Gisela of the Poor School Sisters guarding the Munich synagogue during pro-Palestine protests. (credit: X/Twitter)

Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knobloch, former Munich mayor Christian Ude, former regional bishop Susanne Breit-Kessler, and Social Democratic Party city councilor Micky Wenngatz, chair of the München Ist Bunt alliance, all spoke at the nearby St. Jacob’s Square.

A human chain protected a synagogue in Munich from pro-Palestinians

Knobloch told the German paper Süddeutsche Zeitung that she believed the pro-Palestinian demonstrators chose the route and timing of the rally to specifically coincide with synagogue services on Friday evening. She also criticized the police for allowing it to go ahead. When asked by German news outlet BR why it was allowed to take place, the municipality said there was not a sufficient indication of risk, so a ban could not be issued.

Knobloch thanked the group that turned out to support the Jewish community, saying, “You give us courage,” according to BR journalist Sandra Demmelhuber.

Nach der Mahnwache ging @Cha_Knobloch einmal rund um die Synagoge, um sich bei allen Teilnehmenden auch noch persönlich zu bedanken. „Gut, dass wir Euch als Freunde haben, ihr macht uns Mut“, sagte sie. Die aktuelle Situation sei auch für die IKG-Präsidentin selbst sehr belastend pic.twitter.com/ovBSg8VLc2

— Sandra Demmelhuber (@SDemmelhuber) July 18, 2025

Bernhard Liess, city dean of the Evangelical District of Munich, wrote on Instagram, “Why a pro-Palestinian demonstration with loud anti-Israel slogans must pass by the Munich Jakob Synagogue precisely on Friday evening at the start of the Shabbat services remains a nuisance and incomprehensible.”

“Standing by the side of our Jewish brothers and sisters is the least we can do in the face of such hatred and incitement on the streets,” said nun Sister Gisela, who formed part of the chain. In photos on X/Twitter, Sister Gisela can be seen with a yellow hostage pin on her habit.

“In this country, Jews are being persecuted again and only because they are Jews,” said Bavaria’s antisemitism commissioner Ludwig Spaenle, according to BR. “This is no longer a question about whether things in Israel are right or wrong; these are just demonstrations against Jews.”

Successful boycott by Palestine Speaks

Palestine Speaks, the group responsible for the protest, recently launched weeks of campaigns to prevent the opening of an Israeli restaurant in Berlin.

On Tuesday, it was announced that they were successful: Gila and Nancy, a joint effort by Israeli chef Eyal Shani and entrepreneur Shahar Segal, said it canceled its launch following an anti-Israel protest.

Strangely, many Israelis were part of the efforts to stop the restaurant from opening.

“It’s unpleasant, surprising, and infuriating that this backlash is coming from Israelis themselves,” Segal told Ynet. “But we will continue opening more places and telling our story – our Israeli story – to anyone who’s willing to hear it. The Israeli identity is a core part of the experience, and we won’t dilute that to make others comfortable.”

In response to the news, Palestine Speaks and other groups said they “welcome the news of this postponement” but that they “will only accept permanent closure.”

Mathilda Heller

Source: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-861889

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