Borussia Dortmund‘s club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke has been honored for his commitment against anti-Semitism. The fact that Jews in Germany have to be afraid again is unacceptable and also the result of a “misguided migration policy,” he says in an interview with WELT.
Hans-Joachim Watzke has been awarded the Leo Baeck Prize, the highest honor of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, for his commitment to combating anti-Semitism. At the award ceremony in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, the chairman of the board of Borussia Dortmund spoke of “the greatest honor of his life” before accepting the 10,000 euro prize to a standing ovation from around 500 invited guests.
The 65-year-old accepts the award for all BVB employees, “because everyone supports this issue.” He donated the prize money in two equal parts to the anti-Semitism advice center “ADIRA NRW” and to the preventive project “Together 1” of the Jewish sports association Makkabi Germany.
On the sidelines of the event, WELT TV editor-in-chief Jan Philipp Burgard spoke to Watzke about increasing anti-Semitism in Germany, political mistakes and the worrying developments since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
WELT: The pictures from Amsterdam went around the world. A mob chased after Jewish fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv. What went through your mind when you saw these pictures?
Hans Joachim Watzke: A shiver ran down my spine and I was horrified. But a lot has gone wrong over the past few years. Unfortunately, we have to expect that Israelis in Europe, Jews or Germans with Jewish faith in Germany, will no longer feel safe and will be afraid again. This is a complete disaster for me.
Ask: You said something went wrong. What do you mean by that?
Watzke: I am not a researcher on anti-Semitism. But at least one driver of this development – and this is certainly not only the case in Germany – is, in my view, a misguided migration policy, which leads to the right and left edges becoming stronger, which further increases the problem. I do believe that this is a point that needs to be stated openly, even though there are certainly several other factors. I hope that everyone is aware of the fact, especially we in Germany with our historical responsibility, that Jews are feeling unsafe and afraid again. This is unacceptable for Germany.
WELT: What exactly went wrong in migration policy?
Watzke: The analysis is the job of politicians. I’m just saying that the way it went wasn’t optimal and that one should definitely look at the development of the population structure in Germany over the last ten years and how this issue has been dealt with.
WELT: Are you worried that we could soon see images like those in Amsterdam in Germany too?
Watzke: We already had it – compared to Amsterdam – in a weaker form in our capital Berlin. We have to be very, very vigilant. We can no longer have taboos in analysis, but we have to be honest. We have to clearly say where the problems are and find solutions. Once again: Politics is required here.
WELT: Since October 7th of all days, open hatred of Jews has been occurring on German streets again and again. There are demonstrations where anti-Semitism is openly displayed. Nevertheless, these are not banned. This is just one example of political failure. In your opinion, is the German state doing too little to combat anti-Semitism?
Watzke: I don’t think you can generalize this to the German state, but in some places it’s definitely the case. We need a clear stance. We also have to think about: How can we correct one or two undesirable developments that have occurred? But you also have to have the courage to do this and address things clearly.
WELT: Do you have any idea how this could be corrected?
Watzke: Then I would be in politics.
WELT: You are a CDU member.
Watzke: Yes, CDU member… and if you ask me for my opinion as such, I will certainly express it clearly in one conversation or another.
WELT: BVB has initiated many actions since October 7th and, for example, invited relatives of Israeli hostages to the stadium. Would you wish that broader parts of German society would show such gestures of solidarity?
Watzke: Yes, I do believe that the clear majority in Germany is prepared to show such gestures in the long term. Four weeks ago I visited a young man in Dortmund whose sister Emily is still in the hands of Hamas, as are the 100 other hostages. If you actually feel face to face what these families are going through, you might develop a completely different sensitivity to it. Such encounters give me a lot personally. They are also tiring, but above all they are incredibly necessary and valuable.
WELT: More than a decade ago there was an anti-Semitic incident in the stadium in Dortmund. A banner expressed sympathy for the right-wing extremist organization “National Resistance Dortmund”. A lot has happened since then. How did you manage to combat this right-wing fan scene?
Watzke: You can’t make compromises and you have to have a clear stance. Everyone knows that the fight against racism and the fight against anti-Semitism have been part of Borussia Dortmund’s DNA for many years. And anyone who sees it differently is not welcome at Borussia Dortmund. Point.
WELT: What else have you personally planned to do in the fight against anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews?
Watzke: Show a clear attitude. Courage. Determination and above all: just keep going.
WELT: Mr. Watzke, thank you very much for this conversation.
