Left's Turmoil Before the Victory: The Antisemitism Controversy Rears Its Ugly Head
The political left appears to be excessively influential or advantaged in this context.
By Grit Schlemmer, Chemnitz
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The Left's party conference in Chemnitz was, in essence, a celebration - a unified front showcasing their comeback in the political landscape. However, beneath the surface, it was a battleground, as old conflicts resurfaced: antisemitism, Israel, arms, and Russia. Even the path to governance is uncertain for some leftists.
At the conference's end, the party leadership faced a clear defeat. A motion opposed by the party chief Jan van Aken, nevertheless, passed with a narrow majority: 213 delegates voted for a resolution that aligns the Left with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
This move, while seemingly insignificant, caused an uproar. "A self-destructive resolution," Thuringia's Left state parliamentarian Katharina König commented on Bluesky, lamenting that the majority had "cruelly betrayed the #NoMoreAntisemitism campaign."
Jan Aken at the Party Conference: Rebuking Merz's Trip: "Keep It Flying Directly"
The Jerusalem Declaration is a divisive issue, and it's no wonder van Aken opposed the motion. Some experts see this declaration as watering down the definition of antisemitism[2]. The proposers deny this, but they're angry that their motion was sent to committees like last year[5].
Van Aken argues that the compromise struck last year in Halle was a good one in the Middle Eastern conflict[5]. But the proposers aren't satisfied. They claim they need "to provide clarity on content to counter false smears" against the Left.
Jan van Aken presents a counter-argument, but there's little discussion, time does not allow it[5]. "I'm against ending an academic debate through a party resolution," he says, offering a shallow explanation. Earlier in the conference, memories of Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer were honored.
Only 183 Delegates Side with Van Aken
Van Aken fervently opposes Wiesbaden city councilor Brigitte Forßbohm, who strongly supports the merging of the IHRA and Jerusalem Declaration definitions. Forßbohm argues that, based on the IHRA, any critique of the Israeli government can be deemed antisemitic[3]. This is polarizing, but she garners strong applause. In the digital vote, 183 delegates follow van Aken's appeal; not enough as 40 abstain. Numerous delegates are missing at this point.
Definitions or Collaboration?
The debate is the highlight of an underlying argument that pervaded the entire conference. Several delegates exhibit a kuffiyeh, representing solidarity with the Palestinian people[4].
Former MP Martina Renner, among others, voices dismay on Bluesky. It's not about definitions, Renner argues, but about exonerating people and groups from charges of antisemitism to maintain cooperation[4].
Jerusalem Declaration: Clarifying Antisemitism or Shouldering Controversy?
The dispute over Israel and the Middle East conflict has been a long-standing issue within the party, increasingly sided against Israel[1]. Several prominent members have already left, including former Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer[4]. On Tuesday, Left Party Federal Board member Ulrike Eifler shared a map of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank on X, where Israel's borders were not recognizable[4]. Two days later, the party leadership distanced itself from "any call, statement, or visual representation that, under the guise of solidarity with the Palestinian population, denies the existence of Israel or supports its elimination."
Majority for Middle East Compromise Paper
In Chemnitz, the party leadership had already negotiated a Middle East resolution meant to soothe tensions. The resolution only cites the accusation that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza[5], without explicitly doing so itself.
Endless Controversy, Unwavering Hopes
The relationships with Israel and the ongoing debate over antisemitism were only two aspects of the left's ongoing dispute that resurfaced in Chemnitz. It was supposed to be a conference of unity, and for the most part, it was. Delegates celebrated their re-emergence in the federal election and assured each other that the winning streak would continue in the next year's elections.
"Berlin's first left mayor, that's our goal," faction leader Heidi Reichinnek stated in her speech on Friday[5]. She listed all upcoming elections: in September, local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, in March 2026, state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. Party leaders hope the Left will enter parliament in both federal states for the first time. Elections are also scheduled for Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the coming year.
"A System We Reject"
But the Left may be succeeding too well to avoid conflicts. Other points of contention involve the relationship with power, defense policy, and consequently the relationship with Russia[3]. Wiesbaden city councilor Brigitte Forßbohm said in the evening debate on Friday that she sees parts of the party "clinging to beliefs that are increasingly detached from reality." This particularly applies to questions of war and peace. "The repeated call for disarmament is disregarded, which has a real cause - the Russian attack on Ukraine."
While such positions are far from being a majority among the Left, it was unexpected that they were openly expressed at all. On Saturday, the party conference unanimously rejected the reintroduction of conscription and other compulsory services[3].
A motion demanding the resignation of the Left's ministers and senators in the state governments of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern received much applause. "We are accountable to our class and the people, not to a system we reject," one of the proposers said, echoing sentiments that likely represent a minority.
Success with Question Marks
Party leader Ines Schwerdtner countered the motion against the state associations of Bremen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, stating she agreed with the proposers' content[3]. She argued formally: The main motion already decided that such a scenario should not happen again[3]. Schwerdtner encouraged the party conference not to "set a precedent." The motion was rejected with 219 votes in favor, 192 against, and 39 abstentions[3].
In the end, the lingering conflicts were largely overshadowed, some might even say downplayed. The familiar slogans elicited reliable applause, which is likely to last for a while. The new members, unlikely to be interested in clarifying the old disputes, are part of the comeback - potentially a question mark hanging over the success of the Left.
Source: ntv.de
- The Left
- Chemnitz
- Party Conference
- Jan van Aken
- Antisemitism
- Israel
- Anti-Semitism
Enrichment Data:The search results do not specifically address the controversy surrounding the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism within the Left party in Germany. However, I can provide some context regarding the Jerusalem Declaration and its broader implications:
Background on the Jerusalem Declaration
- The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) was developed as an alternative to the IHRA definition of antisemitism[1]. It aims to provide a framework for identifying antisemitism while allowing for more nuanced discussion around Israel-related issues[1].
- The JDA has been seen as an attempt to differentiate between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israel, addressing concerns raised by some groups that the IHRA definition may suppress free speech and legitimate advocacy for Palestinian rights[1][2].
Controversy with the IHRA Definition
- The IHRA definition includes several examples of antisemitism that relate to criticism of Israel, such as accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than to the country they live in or requiring them to denounce actions by Israel[1][2]. Critics argue that these examples can be used to stifle debate on Israel's policies, potentially conflating legitimate criticism with antisemitism[2][3].
Impact on Political Stances
- In Germany, political parties, including the Left party (Die Linke), may face controversy when addressing antisemitism and their stance on Israel. This is partly due to Germany's historical responsibility toward the Jewish people and its commitment to supporting Israel, often referred to as a "reason of state" (Staatsräson)[1].
- The Left party in Germany often finds itself in a delicate position. While some within the party support Palestinian rights and may criticize Israeli actions, they must also navigate accusations of antisemitism. The party's stance on issues like boycotts of Israel (BDS) can lead to internal and external conflicts, as some view such actions as antisemitic, while others see them as legitimate forms of protest[1].
- The Left party in Chemnitz faced internal strife over the adoption of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a move that some researchers view as watering down the definition of antisemitism.
- The party leadership, led by Jan van Aken, opposed the resolution, with arguments that it had been previously sent to committees like the previous year and that a compromise struck last year in Halle was sufficient to address the Middle Eastern conflict.
- The resolution passed nonetheless, causing an uproar among some leftists, with Thuringia's Left state parliamentarian, Katharina König, referring to it as a self-destructive resolution.
- The debate over the Jerusalem Declaration reflected a larger argument pervading the conference, dividing the Left party on the issues of Israel, the Middle East, and antisemitism, as demonstrated by open expressions of support for the Palestinian people via kuffiyehs and strong opinions on Israel's accusations of committing genocide in Gaza.
