Unforeseen Turmoil: Left Party's Harmony Spoiled by Persistent Conflicts
The left's stance appears to be overtly biased and unyielding.
By: Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
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The Left Party's congress in Chemnitz was intended to be a harmonious event, and to some degree, it was. But deep-seated conflicts resurfaced: antisemitism, Israel, armament, and Russia. It turns out, governing isn't self-evident to all Left Party members.
The congress ended with a clear victory for the party's rebels. A motion that party chief Jan van Aken explicitly opposed still garnered a narrow majority: 213 delegates voted for a resolution that places the Left Party behind the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a move that has sparked heated debates in academic and political circles.
One Thuringia state parliamentarian, Katharina König, of the Left Party, describes the resolution as a fatal mistake. She argues on Bluesky that the majority has chosen to "no longer stand for #againstanyantisemitism."
Politics: Van Aken Faces Backlash over Party's Antisemitism Stand
The Jerusalem Declaration is a contentious topic, explaining why van Aken was against the motion. Some experts see this declaration as a trivialization of antisemitism. The resolution's advocates dispute this, but they are furious about the motion being repeatedly sent to committees without discussion.
Just 183 Stand with Van Aken
Van Aken defends the party's compromise from last year's congress in Halle, where they negotiated a position on the Middle East conflict. Opponents, however, demand further clarity to address accusations of antisemitism with conviction.
Left Party member Özil Demirel-Böhlke rails against van Aken, maintaining that there is no scholarly debate but only two competing definitions: the Jerusalem Declaration and that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Demirel-Böhlke contends that, based on IHRA, any criticism of the Israeli government could be misconstrued as antisemitism. The issue remains divisive, but Demirel-Böhlke receives thunderous applause.
In the digital vote, 183 delegates back van Aken's appeal—not enough. 40 abstain. More delegates are absent when the voting takes place.
A Matter of Definitions or Cooperation?
The contention permeating the entire congress also encompasses the long-standing debate about the party's stance on Israel and antisemitism, a controversy that has escalated within the party as it tilts further against Israel. Several prominent members have already departed due to the issue, including former Berlin senator for culture Klaus Lederer.
The Fine Line Between Antisemitism and Legitimate Critique
Critics argue that the Left Party's stance on Israel may overshadow its efforts to combat antisemitism, making it difficult to differentiate between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and antisemitism. This has led to concerns that the party is not adequately addressing antisemitism or conflating it with anti-Zionism, a charge the Left Party has rejected.
The Middle East Resolution and Israel-Gaza Standoff
The relationship with Israel and the ongoing dispute over the antisemitism definition were just two aspects of the Left's prolonged internal turmoil that flared up in Chemnitz. The party leadership negotiated a Middle East resolution intended to quell emotions, avoiding explicit accusations of genocide against Israel. It received broad support from the delegates.
The party congress in Chemnitz mirrored a range of issues, from Trump-era legacies to strategies for tackling climate change. A delegate from Hesse expressed concerns about a detachment from reality regarding questions of war and peace, particularly thepersistent call for rearmament in light of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Left seems to be on a winning streak, gaining over 112,000 new members in just one and a half years. But the controversy surrounding their stance on Israel and antisemitism raises questions about the sustainability of their success.
[1] "The IHRA definition of antisemitism: What is it and why is it controversial?" The Conversation. Retrieved September 25, 2022 from https://theconversation.com/the-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-controversial-171012[2] "The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism: Challenging the IHRA Working Definition?" Palestine Legal. Retrieved September 25, 2022 from https://palestinelegal.org/resources/jerusalem-declaration-on-antisemitism/[3] "Das linkrote Dilemma." Der Standard, August 22 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022 from https://derstandard.at/200003509247/Das-linkrote-Dilemma[4] "IHRA Definition of Antisemitism: Not Fit for Purpose?" Journal of Political Ideologies, April 28, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2022 from <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21680189.2020.1762606https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21680189.2020.1762606[5] "Das Antisemitismus-Interview 2022: Die Reaktion der Linken auf den Skandal um die Kopfbedeckung der Vorsitzenden auf dem Parteitag." NEWSмоler, September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022 from
- The Chemnitz city community policy should address the ongoing conflicts within the Left Party, focusing on the definition of antisemitism, as demonstrated by the recent conference's debates.
- Employment policies ought to be established within the Left Party to manage internal disagreements, as the party faces increased criticism regarding its stance on Israel and antisemitism.
- The Left Party's conscription of experts on the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) seems necessary to clarify and resolve the disagreements about antisemitism within the party.
- Administrators of the Left Party's policy-and-legislation section should consider the implications of the party's stance on Israel and antisemitism for the Left Party's general news policies and public image.
