By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:
Anti-Semitism is becoming institutionalized.
One of the largest saving banks in all of Germany, Sparkesse Bank, refused to allow an Israeli to open an account in a Berlin branch.
After taking Yakir Avraham's Israeli passport to another room, the teller returned and said: "I'm very sorry, but we cannot open up a bank account for you here. We aren't allowed to open accounts for citizens of countries under embargo."
We can assume that the teller was not alone in the room, or that he spoke to someone on the phone, sent an email or checked via computer. It is unimaginable that the teller would make this decision alone and use the nomenclature "citizens of countries under embargo."
The Israeli contacted YNET, an Israeli media outlet connected to Yediot Ahronot. YNET called the bank. The bank conducted an investigation.
This is the statement issued by Sparkesse Bank: "It's clear that this isn't our business policy. This is an unfortunate mistake made by a young colleague who is still in training, and who didn't know how to deal with the situation properly. She deeply apologizes for the mistake. We hope that Mr. Avraham accepts our explanation and apology."
The apology is not relevant. Avraham can accept or reject it. Denying an Israeli a bank account is against the law in Germany just as it is against the law in the EU. And the language used by the teller explaining her actions is a racist act.
The bank, the teller, and any supervisor who approved the initial refusal to open an account for an Israeli passport holder must be charged and tried for racist anti-Semitic behavior. The German state prosecutor must be alerted. This act must be investigated and charges must be proffered.
This is no small act. This was not a small mistake. This is rabid anti-Semitism.
Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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