A motion against anti-Semitism should also be presented at the Left party conference in Berlin. But the motion could not be passed – party members then left the event. By Sebastian Schöbel
A dispute over anti-Semitism caused a scandal at the Berlin Left party conference. The occasion was a heated debate about conflicting proposals on how to deal with the Middle East conflict, pro-Palestinian protests and anti-Semitism, including within one’s own party. In the end, numerous delegates left the party conference, including several members of the House of Representatives group, for example ex-Culture Senator Klaus Lederer, the former Social Senator Elke Breitenbach and Bundestag Vice President Petra Pau.
Petra Pau no longer wants to run for the Bundestag
Numerous changes for the application against anti-Semitism
The plan was to send a clear signal against anti-Semitism with a comprehensive proposal that was formulated over weeks of preparatory work. He was supported by several district associations and members of the House of Representatives parliamentary group.
In several amendments, however, crucial passages should then be deleted, including a paragraph that critically deals with left-wing anti-Semitism. Critics of the original motion also called for the Palestinian perspective of the Middle East conflict to be taken into account and not to reject criticism of Israeli policy across the board.
Despite heated debates and a short-term break, no agreement was reached, the motion was ultimately withdrawn and a large number of delegates stormed out of the hall angrily.
Left leaders want to continue discussing the topic of anti-Semitism
The state chairwoman of the Left Berlin, Franziska Brychcy, told the rbb after the scandal, “This will now be the process in which we have to work through this and have a conversation.” She is convinced that this will succeed because sometimes “positions are misunderstood or interpreted differently”. It is important to “work out a common understanding,” said the politician.
The co-state chairman of the Berlin Left, Maximilian Schirmer, told rbb: “The topic of the Middle East conflict is a deeply emotional topic throughout the entire city of Berlin.” A party that stands for the entire city also reflects this, says Schirmer – people discuss the topic in the same way as the city society does. The politician emphasized that they did not want anti-Semitism in Berlin. “Nonetheless, of course today we discussed different perspectives on it and different emotional concerns and we will have to continue to do that.”
The left is now continuing to discuss how the party wants to react to anti-Semitism in Berlin. There must also be further discussion within the party; questions about anti-Semitism cannot be “answered so easily with two or three sentences.” A more in-depth debate is needed, said the group leader. He was also sure that a common application and a common solution could be found.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, October 11, 2024, 9:30 p.m
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