Meron Mendel, the head of the Anne Frank Educational Center in Frankfurt, has voiced concerns regarding Yad Vashem's recent announcement to open educational centers in Munich and Leipzig, Germany. He warned that the expansion could be influenced by the Israeli government's political climate, particularly its far-right elements. Mendel called for a public discourse on the implications of establishing Yad Vashem-affiliated institutions in Germany, suggesting that collaboration with established German institutions might have been a better approach. His views were echoed by Jens-Christian Wagner, director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorial Foundation, who criticized the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. In response, Yad Vashem chair Dani Dayan dismissed Mendel's comments, asserting that the institution operates independently of the Israeli government. The expansion has garnered support from German leaders, including Education Minister Karin Prien, who emphasized its significance for Holocaust remembrance and education amidst rising political extremism. Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish Community of Munich, also highlighted the necessity of such institutions as the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles.