Hell Breaks Loose: Left Party's Peaceful Gathering Turned Chaotic
The political left appears to be overly assertive or biased, according to some perspectives.
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
The Last-Minute Drama: The Left Party's conference in Chemnitz started off harmoniously, but old disputes stubbornly surfaced - antisemitism, Israel, arms, Russia. Even governance wasn't a guarantee for all Left Party members.
The conference ended with a surprising defeat for the party leadership. A motion, vehemently opposed by party chief Jan van Aken, surprisingly passed with a slim majority of 213 votes: aligning the Left Party with the so-called Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
Some might find this incident ordinary, but Katharina König, a Left Party state parliamentarian in Thuringia, sees it as a "fatal resolution." This decision, she said, means the majority has decided that "the Left Party no longer stands for #againstEveryAntisemitism."
Former Comrades Turned Adversaries: A Fight Over Definitions
The Jerusalem Declaration is a controversial document, and it's unsurprising that van Aken opposed the motion. Some experts argue the declaration trivializes antisemitism, which the proposers deny[1]. They're primarily upset that their motion was quietly referred to committees - again[2].
Van Aken argues that the Left Party found a good compromise at last year's conference in Halle. That resolution dealt with the Middle East conflict positioning. The proposers claim this is insufficient; they need "content clarity to refute false, defamatory accusations" against the Left Party[3].
Jan van Aken presents a brief counter-argument, but there's no real discussion due to time constraints. He says, "I'm against ending a scientific debate through a party conference resolution, we can't do that." The commotion over definitions and the ideological struggle are not new; they've been simmering in the party for a while[4].
Politics Van Aken at the Party Conference: Left Party Leader Praises Merz's Trip: "Should Continue Directly"
This debate is part of an underlying conflict that permeated the entire conference. Several delegates in Chemnitz wore keffiyehs to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people[5]. Not just Katharina König, but other leftists are appalled. It's not about definitions - they say, but about being able to acquit persons and groups of the anti-Semitism charge in order to continue cooperating[6].
The debate on how to deal with Israel and the Middle East conflict has been ongoing in the party for a long time, and it's increasingly slanted against Israel[7]. Several prominent members have already left the Left party over this issue. He might not see much reason to return: On Tuesday, Left party federal board member Ulrike Eifler posted a map of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank on X, where Israel's borders were not recognizable[8]. Two days later, the party executive distanced itself from "any call, statement, or visual representation that, under the guise of solidarity with the Palestinian population, negates the existence of Israel or promotes the elimination of Israel."
Hopes for Victory in the Upcoming Elections Cloud Internal Disputes
In Chemnitz, the party executive had already negotiated a Middle East resolution intended to calm nerves. It mentioned the accusation that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip but didn't explicitly make the accusation itself. The debate on this paper was heated, with Hana Qetinaj from Frankfurt am Main, one of the applicants, saying, "The Israeli government and its henchmen must be held accountable." She felt that the Left has lost credibility in this question due to the "false relativization during a genocide." The paper received a clear majority with the party executive's approval.
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Overview of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism
The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) is a document drafted in 2020 by experts in Jewish, Holocaust, and Middle Eastern Studies. It was published in March 2021 and has been signed by over 350 scholars[1]. The JDA serves as an alternative to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, aiming to provide a clearer distinction between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism. The JDA defines antisemitism as "discrimination, prejudice, hostility, or violence against Jews as Jews (or Jewish institutions as Jewish)"[1].
Key Points of the JDA:
- Criticism of Israel: The JDA allows for criticism of Israel similar to what is applied to other countries[2][5], emphasizing that support for different political arrangements in the region (e.g., two-state, binational, or unitary democratic state) is not inherently antisemitic[1][2].
- Zionism and Jewish Identity: It distinguishes between Zionism (support for Israel) and Jewish identity, allowing for sharp criticism of Israel without being classified as antisemitic[1][2].
Controversy within the Left Party in Germany
- Divergence from IHRA Definition: The JDA's approach contrasts with the IHRA definition, which some in the Left Party might see as too broad and restrictive of free speech[3][5].
- Political Sensitivities: The distinction between criticizing Israel and antisemitism is highly politicized. Some members of the Left Party might support the JDA's clearer demarcation to allow for vigorous debate on Israel without being labeled antisemitic, while others might view this approach as insufficiently addressing antisemitism[1][5].
- Historical Responsibility: Germany's historical responsibility to combat antisemitism adds complexity. The use of definitions like the JDA might be seen as a way to ensure that efforts to combat antisemitism do not suppress democratic rights or stifle legitimate political discourse[5].
Overall, the controversy within the Left Party likely revolves around balancing the need to combat antisemitism effectively while preserving space for political debate and criticism of Israel.
- TheLEFT Party's conference in Chemnitz, initially harmonious, ended in turmoil as a contentious motion was passed, vehemently opposing by party chief Jan van Aken - a move to align the party with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
- In politics, this decision is controversial, with some experts arguing that the Declaration trivialized antisemitism, while proponents deny this.
- The Left Party's leadership and a majority of members agreed to this motion, sparking concerns among some, like Katharina König, who sees it as a dangerous resolution, suggesting the party no longer stands #againstEveryAntisemitism.
- The debate over the Jerusalem Declaration is part of an ongoing internal conflict within the Left Party, with differing views on how to handle Israel and the Middle East conflict, leading to disagreements and even the departure of some prominent members.
