It has been two weeks since fighters from the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israeli civilians, took over 200 people hostage and fired rockets into Israel. Two weeks of terror, of sadness. Two weeks in which the Middle East conflict reached a new level of escalation. Two weeks in which people around the world took to the streets to show their solidarity with Israel, with Jews, with the civilian victims and those affected on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
Others publicly celebrated Hamas’ mass murder and spread anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slogans – there have been more than 200 anti-Semitic incidents nationwide in the past few weeks. In order to take a stand against this, a broad alliance of various organizations called for a rally in Berlin on Sunday. In addition to the SPD, the alliance also includes the CDU, FDP, the Greens, the Left, the German-Israeli Society, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the Catholic German Bishops’ Conference, the Alhambra Society and the Central Council of Jews.
Steinmeier: “Your pain is our pain.”
Under the motto “Stand up against terror, hatred and anti-Semitism – in solidarity and compassion for Israel,” thousands of people (the police speak of 10,000, the organizers of 25,000) gathered at the Brandenburg Gate. They pushed their way to the Victory Column, waving Israeli and Palestinian flags, as well as Iranian, Kurdish and ones with the Star of David in rainbow colors. Many people had prepared signs: They showed the kidnapped hostages and demanded “Bring them home”.
Volker Beck, Green Party politician and President of the German-Israeli Society, emphasized with regard to the broad political-social alliance: “Despite everything else that divides us: solidarity and protection of human dignity unites us against every form of anti-Semitism.” Federal President Frank -Walter Steinmeier spoke about the responsibility towards Jews living in Germany. It is “unbearable that Jews have to be afraid again – in our country of all places.” In Germany, protecting Jewish life is a state task and a citizen’s duty. The head of state assured Israel of German solidarity: “We say to our friends in Israel, we say to Jews: You are not alone, we stand by your side. Your pain is our pain.”
Like other speakers, Steinmeier explicitly referred to the responsibility towards victims in the Palestinian civilian population: “We must not forget the innocent people in Gaza who do not support terrorism and who are still suffering now. We must and will work to protect civilians.” The SPD federal chairwoman Saskia Esken pointed out that it was about standing on the side of humanity: “Humanity is what connects us and gives us hope even in the darkest hour.”
Ambassador calls for “zero tolerance” for anti-Semitism
Jewish representatives expressed gratitude for the obvious solidarity – at the same time they called for concrete measures. Daniel Botmann, executive director of the Central Council of Jews, said: “We demand more than declarations of intent, we demand more than expressions of solidarity. We demand actions that mean that Jews in our country no longer have to be afraid.” The Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, also made it clear. There are often warnings about a possible conflagration caused by the Middle East conflict, but in this country it is also important to prevent such a conflagration: “Otherwise the terror from the Gaza Strip will also reach Germany.” There must be “zero tolerance” for any form of anti-Semitism Germany apply.
Muslim voices also had their say on the stage: FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai, Green Party leader Omid Nouripour and Eren Güvercin from the Alhambra association. Nouripour said he was speaking “not only as party leader, but also as a German of Muslim faith.” A clear commitment to Israel is needed. Güvercin expressly distanced himself from Hamas and said its crimes should not be relativized. Muslims have a responsibility to ensure that Jews can live safely.
Condolences for relatives of kidnapping victims
It became very quiet as two people spoke whose relatives were being held hostage by Hamas. Roni Roman had the people gathered sing a song for her kidnapped sister – a birthday song, because the sisters would have celebrated this event that Sunday. Actually. “Please don’t leave me alone,” said the young woman. “Time is running out for my sister.” Yoni Asher described his helplessness and desperation: his wife and his two daughters, three and five years old, are in the hands of Hamas. He wanted to tell them: “Please hold on, your father loves you, don’t be afraid, hug each other. Our love will win and you will return to my arms.”
2023-10-22 22:43:35
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