DPG President warns against political exploitation of anti-Semitism allegations in Berlin

Against the backdrop of a government coalition in Berlin led by the Left Party, the President of the German-Palestinian Society (DPG), Nazih Musharbash, has warned against using allegations of anti-Semitism specifically for political discrediting. “The party leadership of the Left has made it credible that there is no place for anti-Semitism in the party,” said Musharbash in an interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (noz). Musharbash, who is himself an SPD member, said he sees nothing for the SPD “that should speak against holding talks about a coalition” with the Left.

After its election victory in the capital, the Left Party in Berlin is accused by critics of not consistently rejecting anti-Semitic milieus. This accusation is once again in danger of being exploited, which is “not relevant in the fight against anti-Semitism,” warned the DPG president.

At the same time, Musharbash warned against using the term Israel-related anti-Semitism as if critics of Israel were automatically anti-Semitic. “Legitimate criticism is criticism of Israeli government actions and the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza, Lebanon and the occupying power in the West Bank,” the DPG President emphasized to noz. The borderline to anti-Semitism lies where people are held personally responsible for the actions of their state.