“My work against antisemitism is probably pushing people toward violence,” said Andreas Büttner, Brandenburg’s antisemitism commissioner, describing the sense of terror after becoming the target of an act of arson.
During the night between Saturday and Sunday, a pergola at his home was set on fire while he and his family were inside, and a Hamas symbol was sprayed on the front door.
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The commissioner's house
(Photo: Twitter account of the Israeli ambassador to Germany)
In an interview with the German-Jewish newspaper Jüdische Allgemeine, Büttner said it was clear from the outset that the incident was no accident. “When we saw that someone had set fire to our property, it was immediately clear: this was a targeted attack. It was a shock for me and for my family,” he said. The night, he added, is etched into his family’s memory because their basic sense of security vanished in an instant. “When your front door is attacked, it cuts you to the core.”
Büttner stressed that none of his family members were physically harmed, for which he said he was deeply grateful, but emphasized that the emotional damage was severe. His family, he said, was forced to confront the reality that his fight against antisemitism had made them a target themselves. “That is hard to bear, and it is exactly why this must not be downplayed,” he said.
He also described the response of the authorities, saying the state government, police and security services acted swiftly and treated the incident with seriousness from the very beginning. The investigation is being conducted as a high priority, he said, and the response sends a clear message of support for victims and zero tolerance for antisemitism.
Addressing the Hamas symbol left on his door, Büttner said he would not speculate about who carried out the attack, but that its meaning was unmistakable. “Hamas’ red triangle is an internationally recognized symbol of jihadist violence and antisemitic incitement,” he said. “Anyone who uses it wants to intimidate and glorify terror. This is not a protest — it is a threat.”
Büttner noted a sharp escalation in threats against him in recent months, particularly since the Hamas terror attack of October 7. What is especially worrying, he said, is that antisemitism is becoming increasingly open, aggressive and unrestrained. Against that backdrop, he underscored the importance of a firm and unambiguous stance by the Brandenburg government, which he said is acting with clear commitment to protecting Jewish life.
Debates over the Middle East are also taking place within Germany’s Left Party, of which Büttner is a member. He made clear that there can be no tolerance for antisemitism, regardless of its source, and called on all democratic parties — including his own — to take unequivocal positions. Brandenburg, he said, is demonstrating that political clarity is possible, and he expressed hope that it would be echoed elsewhere.
Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor responded to the incident in a post on X, saying his thoughts were with Büttner and his family. The attack, he wrote, would only strengthen Büttner’s determination to fight antisemitism. Prosor said the radical wing of the “pro-Palestinian solidarity” movement is not only antisemitic but also terrorist, adding that the Hamas triangle represents attempted murder — in Gaza and in Brandenburg. Hatred of Israel, he wrote, goes hand in hand with hatred of democracy, and he called on the rule of law to dismantle terrorist organizations before they strike again.