Support Independence for Palestine, Reject Hamas Control
In the heart of Berlin, the overall societal mood towards Palestine remains humanistic, yet the actions of a local district association, Neukölln Left, have sparked controversy and public criticism. The association's connections with the "United Palestinian National Committee" (UPNC), an umbrella organization classified by the Berlin Federal Office as an umbrella group supporting Hamas and Islamist terrorism, have led to allegations of antisemitism and support for Hamas.
Recent events, such as the pro-Palestine demonstration in Neukölln, have been marred by antisemitic rhetoric and speeches glorifying terror, according to media reports and official surveillance assessments. The CDU politicians and local officials have condemned the Left district association for failing to distance itself from such elements.
The motto of the demonstration was "Solidarity with Palestine. Stop the Gaza genocide. No weapons deliveries to Israel." However, calls like "Long live, long live Intifada" and "Death, death to the IDF" were heard at the event. Left-wing Palestine supporters immediately tore down a banner reading "There is no free Palestine with Hamas" that was raised during the demonstration at the Fusion Festival in June.
The Neukölln Left's alliance with Hamas is politically disastrous, as it has provoked political backlash and damaged the association's public image. A sign reading "X-thousand dead children. How does that fit with Never again Holocaust?" was soon defaced with counter-slogans, highlighting the sensitive nature of the association.
The Neukölln Left's actions show that a large part of the Palestine-solidarity left repeatedly fails to uphold universal standards of judgment. The deputy mayor of Neukölln stressed that hostility towards Israel and antisemitism should have no place in the district.
Despite the harsh criticism, the "United Palestinian National Committee" is now invited by the Left district association Neukölln for a solidarity event for Palestine in Berlin. This decision has drawn further criticism, with many questioning the association's commitment to upholding universal standards of judgment.
The broader pro-Palestinian movement in Germany remains active, with several hundred Palestinian demonstrators gathering on Berlin's Alexanderplatz on Wednesday. However, the particular alignment with groups labeled as terrorist supporters complicates the Left's efforts to present a legitimate political platform on Palestine solidarity and peace.
[1] Source: Berliner Morgenpost, Berliner Zeitung, Tagesspiegel [2] Source: Der Spiegel [3] Source: Die Welt
- The controversial actions of Neukölln Left, such as inviting the United Palestinian National Committee, an organization classified as an umbrella group supporting Hamas and Islamist terrorism, have prompted criticisms of antisemitism and support for Hamas, raising questions about the association's commitment to upholding universal standards of judgment in the context of war-and-conflicts and general-news.
- The pro-Palestine demonstration in Neukölln, marred by antisemitic rhetoric and glorification of terror, has underlined the challenging nature of politics surrounding the Palestine issue, as the Left's alliance with such groups has complicated their efforts to present a legitimate political platform in matters of war-and-conflicts and general-news.
