Following anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attacks in Halle and Hanau, Israeli ambassador to Germany Jeremy Issacharoff warned Thursday that: "No democratic society can survive if minorities are constantly threatened or harmed."

"The Holocaust has shown us all where such hatred leads," he told the German regional newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. "An open society can tolerate many things, but never violence. People are starting to act violently against minorities, against Jews and Muslims again."

Read more: Opinion: The anti-Semitism targeting us Jews isn’t 'back' — it never left

The ambassador also appealed to Jews and Muslims not to hide their religious affiliation.

"More security for every kind of community in Germany cannot be achieved by people hiding their identity, their religion," said the Israeli ambassador, who has been living in Germany for two and a half years.

"Not wearing a kippa or Muslim headgear would also mean hiding the problem. We have to protect everyone, stem terrorism and hatred, and maintain an open society where we can celebrate our diversity."

Watch video 01:43 Share Hanau: 'Where can I feel safe now?' Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3YS3h Hanau: 'Where can I feel safe now?'

'Europe the cradle of Antisemitism'

The Israeli diplomat also criticized recent carnivals in Spain and Belgium, where anti-Semitic floats were on full display, triggering outrage across Europe.

A Spanish Carnival troupe that enacted a Holocaust-themed parade featured gun-toting Nazis, while in Belgium floats appeared with anti-Semitic caricatures showing racist stereotypes of people with hooked noses and gold bars.

Issacharoff wrote on Twitter: "This is contemptible and scandalous to relate to the Holocaust in this way particularly in Spain that instigated the Inquisition against Spanish Jews over 500 years ago. This and the recent event in Belgium reinforce the image of Europe as the cradle of Antisemitism."

The Belgian carnival in Aalst is known for mocking public figures, but recently came under fire for promoting insulting and derogatory depictions of Jews.

The Carnival troupe in Spain, meanwhile, has apologized to the Jewish community over a parade in the small town of Campo de Criptana, about 110 kilometers (68 miles) southeast of Madrid. Spain's foreign minister decried the procession. It has since canceled its remaining shows.

Watch video 03:08 Share Anti-Semitic tropes on display at centuries-old Carnival Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3YGzI Charges of racism, anti-Semitism darken Carnival in Belgium

jsi/ls (dpa, KNA)

Eds: This is a modified version of a previous article.

Each evening, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.