Demonstration opposing pro-Palestine gathering - Unrest at anti-pro-Palestinian demonstration
In the heart of Berlin, a pro-Palestinian solidarity event organized by the Neukölln Left and the Werteinitiative association, the youth organization of the FDP, sparked controversy and debate. The event, known as the "Soli-Kiez-Event," was criticized for potentially breaching taboos and inviting supporters of the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas.
The United Palestinian National Committee, listed on an overview of the program on Telegram, has been a subject of concern for the Berlin interior administration. Reports from the Constitutional Protection Agency suggest that the committee works closely with supporters of Hamas and the secular-left nationalist terrorist organization PFLP. However, there are no publicly available detailed records or credible sources specifically documenting the history of the United Palestinian National Committee in Berlin or its direct links to Hamas and the PFLP.
The event, initially planned in Neukölln, had to be moved after the planned rooms were canceled. Despite the criticism, the Neukölln Left claimed that up to 150 people participated in the event. On the other hand, Moritz Wimmer, chairman of the counter-demonstrators, estimated the number of participants in the counter-demonstration to be around 40, with several of them carrying Israeli flags.
Wimmer criticized the event, stating that inviting more or less open Hamas supporters is a danger to Jewish life in Germany and to the free society. He argued that the United Palestinian National Committee repeatedly expresses anti-Semitic or anti-Israeli propaganda and denies the right to exist of Israel.
The Werteinitiative association, which works for Jewish interests in the majority society in Germany, distanced itself from the event, stating that it does not support any form of anti-Semitism or propaganda that denies the right to exist of Israel.
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict involves many political and militant groups, among which Hamas and the PFLP are prominent Palestinian organizations known for their activism and armed struggle, with international branches and supporter networks, including in Germany. Berlin and specifically the Neukölln district have notable Palestinian and broader Middle Eastern diaspora communities where political activism and solidarity events with Palestine occur. Yet, no specific mention of a "United Palestinian National Committee" or its direct associations are found in recent or historical records.
The Solidarity event in Neukölln was organized under the motto "Neukölln stands together - Solidarity with the people in Palestine." The Constitutional Protection Agency sees the National Committee critically and classifies it as enemies of the constitution with anti-Israeli attitudes. Despite the controversy, the debate over the event highlights the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the role of political activism in Germany.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the Soli-Kiez-Event in Berlin, cooperation with the United Palestinian National Committee, who are linked to the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas and the secular-left nationalist terrorist organization PFLP according to reports, remains a contentious issue among EC countries, and discussions about cooperation with countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Eastern Europe in regards to this matter are ongoing in general news and politics.
- Amidst the debate over the Soli-Kiez-Event in Neukölln, concerns about war and conflicts persist, as the Israeli–Palestinian conflict continues to involve political and militant groups like Hamas and the PFLP, whose activism and armed struggle extend to countries including Germany, with potential implications for cooperation with these countries in the context of war and conflicts.
