Germans vow to fight anti-Semitism

BERLIN, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- German lawmakers have signed declarations condemning anti-Semitism.

One document was signed by members of the Left Party and an identical version was signed by the remaining parliamentarians. The separate documents were required after Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party and its sister party, the Christian Social Union, refused to sign the same document as the Left Party, which is mainly comprised of former East German communists and former members of the Social Democrats, Deutsch Welle reported Wednesday.

The declarations call for the German government to issue regular reports on anti-Semitic activity and sentiments in the country and suggest long-term funding for programs designed to combat hatred of Jewish people.

Hans-Peter Uhl of the Christian Social Union said his party refused to sign the document with the Left Party because "it's undisputed that hidden anti-Semitism was part of the national interests of the GDR (former East Germany)." He also accused the Left Party of tolerating anti-Semitic tendencies.

Left Party member and Deputy Parliamentary President Petra Pau described Uhl's comments as "forgetful of history" and "undignified." She said Left Party members joined with other parties in a recent protest against neo-Nazis in Mettingen.