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Angela Merkel in an interview with CNN broadcast on May 28, 2019 acknowledged that anti-Semitism remained a problem for Germany and that her country had a historic responsibility in the fight against the far right. CNN / Screenshot

As in other countries, anti-Semitism raises concerns in Germany. But after the Shoah and the death of six million deported Jews, Berlin retains a special responsibility. This is what Angela Merkel has just recalled in an interview with the American television channel CNN.

With our correspondent in Berlin , Pascal Thibault

The specters of the past compel Germany to remain forever vigilant. Angela Merkel, in an interview with CNN, acknowledged that anti-Semitism remained a problem for Germany and that her country had a historic responsibility in the fight against the far right.

Angela Merkel told @caman that she's supposed to love Obama actually "did not start very smoothly" https://t.co/TgdMr2qzBF

Luke McGee (@lukemcgee) May 28, 2019

The Chancellor's statements come after an interview by the German Government's delegate for anti-Semitism. Felix Klein advised Jews not to wear the yarmulke on the street so as not to risk it. Her statements were widely commented and also criticized by Angela Merkel's spokeswoman, who said the state must ensure that the free exercise of religion is possible for all.

Felix Klein has meanwhile invited the Germans to show their solidarity with Jews who are often worried. Antisemitic acts increased by 20% last year. The population is expected to wear the kippah next Saturday during the day al-Quds. Launched forty years ago by the Iranian regime, it denounces Israeli control over Jerusalem and supports the Palestinian cause. The demonstrations give rise to anti-Semitic excesses.

The popular daily Bild Zeitung has proposed in its edition of Monday in Une a cutting kippa adorned with a star of David. Other newspapers did the same last year. On Twitter, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas published a photo showing him wearing this kippah. " I wear the yarmulke because I do not want anyone to hide their Jewish faith again - not in Germany or anywhere else, " Heiko Maas wrote on his Twitter account.

Ich trage Kippa, weil ich will, dass niemand seinen jüdischen Glauben jemals wieder verstecken muss - weder in Deutschland noch anderswo. Statt die Kippa zu verstecken, mussen wir alle noch deutlicher #Gesichtzeigen gegen
Antisemitismus. Darum unterstütze ich die @ BILD-Aktion. pic.twitter.com/fWu5zNaqHs

Heiko Maas 🇪🇺 (@HeikoMaas) May 28, 2019

►Also read: Germany: a "kippa march" against anti-Semitism in Berlin