A study by the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, a think tank closely linked to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has raised serious concerns about the recent shift in the Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s positioning, alleging a strategic exploitation of the conflict in Israel for political gain. The research indicates that the AfD’s increasingly vocal and visible pro-Israel stance since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, is less about genuine solidarity and more about a calculated maneuver to deflect attention from the party’s underlying anti-Muslim sentiment and, potentially, antisemitism.
The analysis suggests that the AfD’s growing popularity is intrinsically tied to its rejection of Muslim communities and the purported support for Israel serves as a crucial tool for reinforcing and normalizing this “anti-Muslim” core ideology. Leading figures like Beatrix von Storch and Alice Weidel are accused of orchestrating a narrative that portrays the AfD as the sole champion of Jewish interests, a performative tactic designed to appeal to a specific voter base and shield the party from accusations of antisemitism.
Norbert Lammert, former President of the Bundestag and current Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, strongly criticized the AfD’s approach, arguing that the professed Israel solidarity masks dangerous currents of “völkisch nationalism, conspiracy thinking and hatred towards Muslims, alongside antisemitism”. He emphasized the need for genuine support for both Israelis and Jewish communities in Germany, contrasting it with what he described as the “politically staged, sham solidarity of a far-right party.
The Konrad-Adenauer Foundation’s researchers characterize the AfD’s actions as a “deception” aimed at making extremist viewpoints more socially acceptable. Crucially, the study finds that AfD supporters are significantly more likely to endorse antisemitic statements, raising questions about the sincerity of the party’s alleged pro-Israel stance and highlighting a potentially worrying trend in the normalization of far-right ideologies through a seemingly benign issue. The findings underscore a critical need for a thorough examination of the political motivations behind the AfD’s current trajectory and the potential consequences for German society.