Unforeseen Drama at Final Hour: Left Party Divided Over Israel and Antisemitism
The progressive faction demonstrates an overt clarity in their political stance.
By Hubertus Volmer, Chemnitz
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The Left Party Congress in Chemnitz, initially expected to be a harmonious event, took an unexpected turn. Underlying debates over Israel, antisemitism, and controversy-laden definitions surfaced, challenging the party's unity.
In the end, the Left Party leadership suffered a setback. Despite the explicit opposition from party leader Jan van Aken, a motion found a narrow majority approving official alignment with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA).
Katharina König, Thuringia's Left Party state parliamentarian, criticized this move on Bluesky, commenting that "the majority decides that the Left Party no longer stands for #againstEveryAntisemitism."
The Shift in Allegiances
The JDA has sparked controversy. It's no surprise that van Aken opposed the motion, as some view this declaration as trivialized antisemitism. The proposers argue that their motion aims to create clarity to refute misguided accusations of antisemitism against the Left Party.
Van Aken countered by highlighting a compromise reached at last year's Halle congress regarding the Middle East conflict. However, the proposers find this compromise insufficient. The vote on the matter revealed a close result, with 183 delegates following van Aken's appeal and 40 abstentions.
More Than a Semantic Regional Dispute?
Behind these semantic disputes is a wider discussion of cooperation and the boundaries of antisemitism definitions. Several delegates in Chemnitz wore kufiyas in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and the debate ignited heated reactions from some Leftists, who argued that the issue is about exonerating individuals and groups from antisemitism accusations.
The debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and definitions of antisemitism has long plagued the left, leading to resignations of prominent members like former Berlin culture senator Klaus Lederer. Recently, the federal board member of the Left Party, Ulrike Eifler, faced criticism for posting an unrecognizable map of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank on X, sparking a party executive rebuke.
A Contentious Middle East Resolution
In Chemnitz, the party executive had negotiated a Middle East resolution aimed at calming tensions. While this paper did not explicitly accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a delegate lamented that the Left has lost credibility in the question, complaining about a "false relativization during a genocide." The paper nevertheless gained a clear majority.
The Same Ongoing Controversies
Israel and antisemitism were just two aspects of the left's ongoing controversy, which reared its head during the Congress. Aside from these issues, debates revolved around the relationship with power, defense policy, and, by extension, the relationship with Russia. A delegate from Hesse expressed concern over persisting beliefs detached from reality, citing renewed calls for rearmament and overlooked causes, such as the Russian attack on Ukraine.
The Left Party has been experiencing success recently, but the Congress ultimately highlighted the strains and internal conflicts that could potentially undermine its future.
- The community policy of the Left Party in Chemnitz faced division, with intense debates over Israel, antisemitism, and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA).
- Employment policy within the Left Party was also affected, as the vote on aligning with the JDA resulted in a narrow majority, despite opposition from party leader Jan van Aken.
- The decision to align with the JDA sparked criticism from party members, such as Katharina König, who commented on Bluesky that the move undermines the Left Party's commitment against every form of antisemitism.
- The policy-and-legislation implications of this decision extend beyond Chemnitz, as the Left Party's stance on Israel and antisemitism has been a contentious issue, leading to resignations of prominent members and internal strife.
- The debates at the Left Party Congress in Chemnitz were not limited to Israel and antisemitism, as they also encompassed politics, general-news topics like defense policy and the relationship with Russia, and concerns about renewed calls for rearmament and overlooked causes like the Russian attack on Ukraine.
