German Foreign Minister speaks out on 'disgrace' of antisemitic attacks

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has described recent antisemitic incidents in his country as a "disgrace".

Addressing a Yom Ha'atzmaut event in Berlin, Mr Maas said that "as long as Jewish schools and synagogues in Germany need to be guarded, as long as youth are being attacked on the street for wearing a kippah, as long as German music awards are given to antisemitic provocateurs – it's a disgrace". 

He sometimes felt Germans were not worthy of the "wonderful gift" of the nation's relations with Israel.

Israel's ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, praised Mr Maas's remarks.