Head of Germany’s largest media group: We must all become Zionists

Mathias Döpfner speaking before the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress. Photo: screenshot from the World Jewish Congress YouTube channel

Mathias Döpfner, head of Europe’s largest media holding, Axel Springer, has called on the Western world to formally support Zionism and described “woke” ideology as a tool for destroying free society. Speaking in Geneva before the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress, he stressed that the fight against antisemitism is a condition for the survival of Western civilization.

Döpfner pointed to the failure of modern institutions and elites, which, he said, allowed hatred to surge after the events of October 2023. He called it hypocrisy that the UN in Geneva condemns Israel more often than all the world’s dictatorships combined. In his view, anti-Zionism has become a modern form of racism disguised as political correctness.

“Anyone who truly cares about democracy, freedom, and humanity must be a Zionist today. We must all become Zionists!” Mathias Döpfner declared. He explained that Zionism is not merely a Jewish idea, but the logical consequence of history and a people’s legitimate right to self-determination and security.

The Axel Springer chief sharply criticized Western universities and cultural circles, calling intellectuals “agents of historical amnesia.” He said “woke” ideology is a Trojan horse for antisemitism and Islamism. According to Döpfner, this worldview idealizes victimhood and has mistakenly assigned the role of “victims” to bearers of antisemitic ideas.

To save Europe, the media magnate proposed a radical change in migration policy. He said preferential conditions should be introduced for Jewish families wishing to immigrate, in order to restore the region’s cultural balance. “Europe must become more Jewish,” Döpfner stressed, pointing to the tenfold gap between the share of the Jewish population in the European Union and in the United States.

The media group’s head also called for a policy of zero tolerance toward those who incite hatred. He proposed the immediate deportation of such activists from Western countries where legally possible.

“If the free world does not defeat antisemitism, it will destroy itself,” Döpfner warned at the close of his speech. He added that Islamism is today the most aggressive threat to Western values, and that passivity in confronting it would be a suicidal mistake. Mathias Döpfner urged all non-Jews to defend Israel out of “healthy self-interest” and a sense of self-preservation.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Churches of Jerusalem had criticized “Christian Zionism.”

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