Postponement of Hannah Arendt Prize Award Ceremony Amid Controversy Over Gaza Comparison
The scheduled award ceremony of the Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought, originally planned for Friday, has been postponed due to the controversy surrounding the chosen recipient, Masha Gessen. A spokesperson for the sponsoring association confirmed that the event will now take place on a smaller scale on Saturday.
The controversy stems from a controversial article Gessen penned for "The New Yorker," in which she compared the situation in Gaza to Jewish ghettos in occupied Europe. This comparison drew criticism from various sources, including the Böll Foundations, which pulled out of the federal and state governments' support of the award ceremony in Bremen Senate.
The German-Israeli Society in Bremen had expressed concerns regarding the comparison, describing it as disconcerting. Bremen's Deputy Head of Government Björn Fecker also distanced himself, stating that the comparison crossed an unacceptable line. The planned award ceremony in the Upper Town Hall was subsequently cancelled.
Established in 1994, the Hannah Arendt Prize aims to honor individuals who contribute to public political thought and action in Arendt's tradition. The prize is donated jointly by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. The jury reportedly made the decision in favor of Gessen during the summer, citing her journalistic commitment to reporting on Russia as the principal factor.
The controversial article, while attempting to provide a differentiated view of the conflict, failed to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. The jury has indicated that Gessen and her stance on the issue of Israel will be discussed.
Though Gessen will still be honored on a smaller scale on Saturday, the public debate about understanding the Middle East conflict has been obstructed, according to the sponsoring association. The organization laments the fact that Gessen, who has endeavored to bring "knowledge, insight, and a sharp mind" to this dispute, is now being boycotted.
Masha Gessen, a Jewish writer and journalist born in Moscow in 1967, has written extensively about political currents and conflicts in U.S. and Russian society. She currently resides in New York City.
Background information: - The Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought was initially scheduled to be awarded to Masha Gessen, but its ceremony was postponed due to controversy surrounding Gessen's recent essay on Gaza. The comparison to Jewish ghettos was criticized by Jewish and pro-Israel activists in Germany, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation withdrew its support for Gessen receiving the award. - Despite the backlash, the Heinrich Böll Foundation eventually decided not to strip Gessen of the award, valuing her commitment to democracy and critical work on uncomfortable issues. The ceremony was rescheduled to a smaller scale without some of the usual trappings. - Gessen maintained that her comparison was in line with Hannah Arendt‟s writings, arguing that such comparisons help identify dangerous similarities and highlight parallels. The controversy is part of a broader debate on responses to the Israel-Gaza war.
