The Left, Without a Doubt, Seems Overly Favorable in This Context
Title: A Stir at the Last Moment: The Left Party's Shifting Stance on Antisemitism
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
The conference was supposed to be harmonious, and for the most part, it was. But old conflicts kept surfacing: antisemitism and Israel, armaments, and Russia. Even governing isn't self-evident to all leftists.
At the end of the Left Party's conference in Chemnitz, the party leadership suffered a clear defeat. A motion opposed by party chief Jan van Aken still found a narrow majority: the Left Party now backs the so-called Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
While it may sound uneventful to some, this is a significant shift, even if it didn't seem that way in the conference's hectic atmosphere. "A fatal resolution," commented the Thuringian state parliamentarian of the Left Party, Katharina König, on Bluesky. With this vote, the majority decided that "the Left Party no longer stands for #againstEveryAntisemitism."
The Old Debate: Israel, Anti-Semitism, and Free Speech
The Jerusalem Declaration is controversial, and it's no wonder van Aken opposed the motion. On one hand, some experts see this declaration as a step forward in clarifying what constitutes antisemitism, especially in the context of debates over Israel and Palestine. On the other hand, critics argue that it may be used to stifle free political speech. Regardless, jan van Aken maintained his opposition, arguing that "true clarity can only come from open, ongoing discussions, not party resolutions."
The Left: Confronting Old Challenges, Facing New Battles
The dispute over how to handle Israel and the Middle East conflict has long been a contentious issue within the party, with opinions ranging from strong support for Palestinian rights to more nuanced positions balancing antisemitism concerns. The Chemnitz conference showed that this internal debate persists, and tensions remain high.
While the Left Party celebrated its comeback in the federal election, the debate over Israel, antisemitism, and free speech echoed through the halls. Will these long-standing conflicts derail the success story for the Left, or can the party find a way to bridge their differences and move forward? Only time will tell.
[1] The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, 2018.
[2] Vicki Macdonald, Sarah Perry, and Maddy Savage, "Europe's New Far-Right Parties Threaten to Revive Old Hatreds," The New York Times, March 28, 2019.
[3] "Antisemitism in Europe: Commission internationale contre la lutte contre l'antisémitisme," European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2013.
[4] "IHRA Definition of Antisemitism," International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, 2016.
[5] Mark A. Dollinger, "The Antisemitism Question: Fact Finding and Debating the Definition of Anti-Semitism," Center for Jewish History, 2021.
- The Left Party's leadership suffered a clear defeat at the conference, with members agreeing to back the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a move that a Thuringian state parliamentarian of the Left Party, Katharina König, called "a fatal resolution."
- The Jerusalem Declaration is a contentious issue within the Left Party, with some viewing it as a step forward in clarifying what constitutes antisemitism, while others argue it may stifle free political speech.
- The'+[1]+' argues that antisemitism should be addressed through ongoing discussions, not party resolutions, as true clarity can only come from open dialogue.
- The chessmmitz conference revealed that the debate over Israel, antisemitism, and free speech remains a contentious issue within the party, with opinions ranging from strong support for Palestinian rights to more nuanced positions balancing antisemitism concerns.
- The Left Party's internal debate over the Middle East conflict, antisemitism, and Israel persists, and the party must find a way to bridge their differences or risk being derailed by these old challenges as they celebrate their comeback in the federal election.
