The number of violent attacks on Jews in Berlin rose by 155 percent last year while threats rose by 77 percent, according to a study published this month by Germany’s Research and Information Center for Anti-Semitism. Across Germany, anti-Semitic attacks were up 14 percent compared to 2017.

This is the latest in a series of studies that shows anti-Semitism in Germany is escalating, particularly over the last three years and especially in 2018. Conversely, crimes against Muslims and mosques have declined slightly from 950 in 2017 to 813 in 2018. And although reported crimes against Muslims have dropped, the severity of those crimes has increased.

In 2018, German authorities registered 10 percent more anti-Semitic offenses than 2017, rising from 1,504 to 1,646 incidents nationwide, 1,083 of which were in Berlin alone. But physical attacks increased by 68 percent, from 37 to 62 cases, 43 of which resulted in injuries. With the rise of far-right parties in 2016 and 2017, anti-Semitism has become more socially acceptable—and, in 2018, more violent.

Berlin’s Problem With Anti-Semitism

The Research and Information Center for Anti-Semitism report states that more and more people with “anti-Semitic attitudes are also increasingly willing to use force against political opponents, critics of anti-Semitic statements, and not least, against men and women recognizable as Jewish” (Trumpet translation throughout).

The report found no evidence to support the commonly believed claim that Germany’s recent surge in anti-Semitism is mostly “imported” due to the refugee crisis. According to the study, most incidents had no apparent political motive (and 49 percent of cases had no traceable motive). In politically motivated cases, right-wing extremism was identified as the main motive (accounting for 18 percent of all cases), followed by activists hostile toward the State of Israel (9 percent). An Islamic motive was only identified in 2 percent of the cases. That’s not to say that Muslim immigration has not added to the increasing hostility in Germany, but it shows that the main cause for the surge are native Germans.

Berlin’s top legal expert for anti-Semitic cases, Claudia Vanoni, made the same observation. “Anti-Semitism has always been here,” she said, adding that the increased frequency and violence against Jews shows that “anti-Semitism is deeply rooted” in Germany, independent of the recent refugee crisis.

Anti-Semitism has not been imported from the Arab world. History, in fact, shows that it is Europe that has been exporting this dangerous poison.

The Common Enemy

Today, we see a surge in anti-Semitism in Europe and the Arab world. Europe has led such a surge before. Under Adolf Hitler, Germany spread its propaganda to the Middle East through radio and printed materials translated into Arabic. Hitler’s mantra was to convince as many Arab countries as possible that they had more in common with the Nazi ideology than they had differences. Hitler’s propaganda machine aroused the Arabs’ hatred against Jews. While Hitler’s Nazi ideology also viewed Arabs as an inferior race, it hated Jews far more.

After World War ii ended and Jews were granted their own state in the Middle East in 1948, Arab hatred against Israel escalated. Arab countries united and attacked the new state.

This hatred for Jews is deep and deadly. For centuries, the Jews in Europe have been the scapegoat for Europe’s problems. Because many Jews survived the Black Death in the 14th century, Europeans blamed the cause of the deadly epidemic on them. Later, it turned out that Jewish hygiene laws saved them from death. Because Christians in Medieval Europe prohibited lending money, Jews filled the need and were therefore dominant in banking. Indebted Christians blamed their financial troubles on the Jews. Because Germany’s defeat in World War i was said to be inexplicable (other than due to the cause of internal traitors), Jews and Communists became the scapegoat. It culminated with Hitler, who blamed the Jews not only for Jesus Christ’s death, but for Germany’s defeat in World War i, Germany’s financial crisis, and every other problem.

Today’s problems are once again blamed on either the Jewish population in Europe or on the Jewish nation of Israel in the Middle East. Forty percent of Germans say blaming Jews for Israel’s policies in the Middle East is appropriate.

Germany still claims to be Israel’s friend. But the rise of anti-Semitism in Germany, as well as many of its policies, should warn the Jews against blind faith in Germany’s promises. What’s more, Bible prophecy foretells that a modern German-Arab alliance will form to destroy Israel.

The Psalm 83 Alliance

A prophecy in Psalm 83 speaks of a coming alliance between Germany and several moderate Islamic nations. Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry explained: “Psalm 83 is fulfilled almost immediately after a Germany-led Europe conquers Iran and radical Islam (Daniel 11:40-43).” Bible prophecy indicates that several Arab nations will join a German-led Europe in destroying Iran and then follow-up by joining forces against Israel.

Germany harbors a considerable amount of hatred for Islam, but notice Psalm 83:1-3: “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people [Israel], and consulted against thy hidden ones.” Mr. Flurry comments on these verses in his booklet The King of the South:

This prophecy lists several moderate Islamic nations that will ally themselves with Assur (Assyria), or modern-day Germany. …

The “enemies” refer to an Islamic alliance with the king of the north [a German-led European empire], which is about to attack the modern descendants of Israel. The victims are primarily America, Britain and Judah (the little nation called Israel today). Bible prophecy says the end-time nations of Israel are unusually fearful and gullible, like a “silly dove” (Hosea 7:8-12). Their enemies take advantage of their weaknesses to destroy them (Hosea 5:5). God only protects the nations of Israel from grave danger if they are obedient—which they are not in this end time.

Psalm 83 shows that this will lead to a surprise military attack. This attack is aimed at destroying all of Israel. Today we are seeing the very same increasing hatred in Germany also rising in the Arab world. It’s not hard to imagine that Arab countries will try to conquer Israel once again, but few believe that Germany would be leading them. But that’s exactly what Bible prophecy says will happen. Request a free copy of The King of the South to learn more.

Hope Lies Within Repentance

Throughout history the Jewish people have been the most persecuted group of people on Earth. One can read their history in the Old Testament and Europe’s annals. But why have Jews suffered so much persecution? And one may also ask: Why have they never been totally extinguished, despite multiple attempts by various world empires?

God refers to the Jews as His people. He taught the Jews and the other tribes of Israel His laws and way of life. (Request a free copy of The United States and Britain in Prophecy, by Herbert W. Armstrong, to learn more about ancient Israel’s history and where the tribes of Israel are today.) Because of their rebellion against His law, He has allowed their suffering. Still, God would never allow this nation to be completely destroyed. He wants these people to come to repentance, and that is exactly what the Bible prophesies will happen. “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1).

The Jews, and the rest of the world, will come to repentance. Some will repent as an immediate result of the suffering they are about to experience; others will repent in a coming resurrection. This resurrection is prophesied in Ezekiel 37, Revelation 20 and other passages in the Bible. It refers to a time when God will raise the dead back to life to judge and teach them. God allows today’s suffering because He knows it will enable Him to teach the Jews and the rest of the world in the future.

Read about this wonderful outcome in Hosea—Reaping the Whirlwind, by Gerald Flurry, and The United States and Britain in Prophecy, by Herbert W. Armstrong. All our literature is free.