Green Youth Chief Jette Nietzard Under Fire: Comparing Hamas Assault to Israeli Military Operations Sparks Outrage
Youth Group Removes Video Created by Jette Nietzard, Questioning Israeli Policies
Jette Nietzard, head honcho of the Green Youth, has gotten herself into hot water yet again, this time for her controversial statements about Israel. All this started with a video she posted on social media on October 7, 2023. Volker Beck, former Green MP and now President of the German-Israeli Society, calls Nietzard out for demonizing Israel and minimizing the horror unleashed by Hamas.
Theheart of the matter revolves around a comment made by Nietzard in the video. Beck shares screenshots to back up his claim: Green Youth's chief talks about over 50,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis killed in military operations since the fateful date in 2023.
Political Fallout: Question Marks over Parliamentary Pass for Nietzard?
The year 2023 saw Palestinian terrorists led by Hamas launch an savage invasion on Israeli territory, leaving nearly 1,200 Israelis dead. The terrorists wreaked havoc with brutal massacres, rapes, torture, and kidnappings. This horrifying event was the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
"Demonize Israel, Trivialise Hamas"
Volker Beck believes Nietzard's statements play down the gravity of this terrorist attack: "On October 7, 2023, the victims of Hamas are being reduced to mere casualties of 'military operations' by Jette Nietzard and the Green Youth. Demonize Israel, belittle Hamas — such behavior will not go unpunished," Beck writes in his post.
After Nietzard's video was criticized, it was deleted and re-uploaded without the offending passage. Beck hasn't found an apology acknowledge his criticism and mockery towards the victims of October 7, 2023.
"October 7 was a Cowardly Terrorist Attack"
The Green Youth finally issued an apology on Friday afternoon on Instagram. In the post, Nietzard admits her mistake: "I uploaded a video yesterday about a topic that stirred intense emotions across the entire Green Youth. And I made a grave error that I deeply regret, especially for all Jewish women and men across the world and in Germany."
Nietzard clarifies her intent: "October 7, 2023 was not a military operation. It was a heinous terrorist attack where 1,200 innocent lives were lost, where women were violated, children were murdered, and hundreds were kidnapped. I didn't intend to downplay the suffering this act caused. My intention was to understand and confront the catastrophic, global impact of October 7 on the global Jewish community."
Nietzard's controversial statements and actions have been a source of discontent among top Green Party officials, most recently due to a photo of her wearing a sweater with the slogan "ACAB" and a cap with the inscription "Eat the Rich."
Politics: Greens Leadership Distances from Nietzard over "ACAB" Sweater
Criticism for the photo has come from every direction, even from the left-leaning factions within the Greens. "It has nothing to do with Green ideology," co-chair Franziska Brantner stated. "We value the hard work of the police in this country." Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, and former Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir have advised Nietzard to leave the party.
In an interview with “Der Stern,” Nietzard acknowledged the "storm of outrage" over her "ACAB" sweater, yet refused to back down: "Not every cop is a bad apple. But many folks—not even one out of ten women who experience sexual violence—report it because they fear they won't be believed. These people live in fear of a state that is supposed to protect them. We cannot accept that."
Resignation, party expulsion, and apologies have all been dismissed by Nietzard: "No, I find an apology unnecessary." Instead, she prepares the Green leadership for more debates: "I am elected until October and have a youth association to lead until then. I will do that. I will likely make headlines again in the next half year. I still have a few other sweaters in my closet, so you can look forward to what conversations we will still be having."
Update at 5:21 PM: Updates have been made to include Nietzard's apology on Instagram.
Sources: ntv.de, chr, Der Stern
- Volker Beck
- Jette Nietzard
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- Israel
- Hamas
- 7th of October 2023
The European Union, in line with its commitment to a comprehensive and comprehensive approach to the fight against terrorism, has expressed concern over the controversial statements made by Jette Nietzard, the head of the Green Youth, regarding the 7th of October 2023 incident in Israel. Volker Beck, a prominent political figure, has accused Nietzard of demonizing Israel and minimizing the gravity of the terror attacks by Hamas, which falls under the category of 'crime-and-justice' and 'general-news'. The European Union, through its diplomatic channels, has called for a respectful and informed discussion on this sensitive matter in the spirit of peaceful discourse.
