Events in the Middle East have stirred up a charged debate in Germany regarding Israel's right to defend itself against the recent terrorist attack orchestrated by Hamas. The reaction from Israel's military has sparked discussions worldwide, and German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has voiced his concerns over the rise of antisemitism in the country in a widely-shared video.

In a speech, Habeck highlighted the presence of antisemitism among various groups in Germany, including Islamists, right-wing extremists, and some factions of the political left. While acknowledging that criticism of Israel's policies and support for Palestinian rights is permissible, Habeck firmly stated that any form of antisemitism should not be tolerated.

Habeck's comments struck a chord with the public, as a recent poll conducted by infratest dimap revealed that 52% of eligible voters believe there has been a surge in antisemitism in Germany since the Hamas attacks on October 7. Comparatively, following an attack on a synagogue by a right-wing extremist in 2017, 59% of respondents at that time perceived a rise in antisemitism.

The survey also questioned respondents about their views on Israel's military response to the terrorist attacks. Around 35% of participants considered Israel's reaction proportionate, while 41% believed they were going too far. Only 8% felt that the military actions did not go far enough. However, when asked if Israeli military strikes against Hamas would be justified even if they predominantly affected the Palestinian civilian population, only 25% agreed, with 61% believing it would not be justified.

Responsibility for the situation in Gaza was a concern for the majority of respondents, with 81% expressing worry about the kidnapped hostages, 65% about the Israeli civilian population, and 72% about the Palestinian civilians. Aid organizations have reported dire conditions for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and 77% of those surveyed believed Hamas to be partially or fully responsible for the situation, with 57% also holding Israel responsible.

Turning to German domestic politics, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his center-left government received slightly higher approval ratings. However, with just under a quarter of eligible voters expressing satisfaction with the government's performance and three-quarters being critical, the overall assessment remains poor. In a hypothetical general election, the ruling coalition would lack a majority, with the center-right bloc of CDU/CSU leading the polls at 30% and the far-right AfD in second place at 22%.

On a different note, the socialist Left Party, which recently witnessed the formation of a breakaway movement by prominent lawmaker Sahra Wagenknecht, has gained ground and shows potential to re-enter parliament.

As the debate surrounding Israel's right to defend itself continues, Germany walks a delicate diplomatic tightrope. Concerns over the rise of antisemitism in the country are amplified, calling for a careful examination of both internal and external factors influencing the situation.

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