Removed from post as Antisemitism Commissioner
In a surprising turn of events, nine members of the Left Party from various German states have called for the expulsion of Andreas Büttner, the Brandenburg Antisemitism Commissioner, due to his contentious statements about the Middle East conflict on social media.
The controversy stems from Büttner's repeated provocative posts, which some party members believe violate existing party resolutions and, in some cases, ignore international law. His stance on Israel and Palestine has been a contentious issue within the party, causing a split among its members.
Büttner has not publicly responded to the request for his expulsion. However, he has expressed a desire for the party leadership to meet with the Central Council of Jews, claiming he has not received a response.
In a post on the X portal, Büttner stated, "Recognizing a state of Palestine would be the worst step we could take." This statement, among others, has led to derogatory comments on social media, including being called a "Zionist pig," "child murderer," and "genocide denier."
The Left Party, known for its opposition to antisemitism, opposes Büttner's criticism of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as Israel accuses it of being infiltrated by the Islamist Hamas.
In May, the Left Party's federal conference called for stopping expulsion and famine in Gaza and implementing international law. The May resolution stated that Israel's method of starving the civilian population is aimed at destroying all the Palestinians' livelihoods.
Despite the controversy, Büttner maintains his position, stating that party resolutions do not bind individual members, and members can have their own positions. He believes that it's not his place to criticize the Israeli government, stating, "The focus should be on what it means when Jews in Brandenburg are attacked because of decisions made by the Israeli government."
However, the specific positions about Israel in the context of this controversy are not detailed explicitly in the search results. Therefore, the stance of the Brandenburg Antisemitism Commissioner regarding the controversy is not available.
As the Left Party navigates this internal controversy, the future of Büttner's position within the party remains uncertain. The controversy serves as a reminder of the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the Middle East conflict, even within political parties.
- The call for the expulsion of Brandenburg Antisemitism Commissioner Andreas Büttner from the Left Party has stemmed from his controversial statements about the Middle East conflict on social media, which some party members believe violate party resolutions and, in some cases, ignore international law, particularly regarding Israel and Palestine.
- The Left Party, known for its opposition to antisemitism, has expressed opposition to Büttner's criticism of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a stance which has fueled controversy within the party.
- The controversy surrounding Brandenburg Antisemitism Commissioner Andreas Büttner's stance on the Middle East conflict has highlighted the complexities and sensitivities around this issue, even within political parties, as it navigates the internal debate and the future of Büttner's position within the party remains uncertain.
