German socialist slams new motion on Palestine

The German parliament has passed a new motion to curb free speech over Palestine which will 'be used for repression', says activist Ramsis Kilani

The German Palestine movement faces severe repression (Photo: Montecruz Foto)

By Yuri Prasad
Monday 11 November 2024

SOCIALIST WORKER  Issue

The German government last week passed a motion on antisemitism that it hopes will silence critics of Israel and its war on the Palestinians.

The final draft of the resolution, titled, “Never again is now—protecting, preserving and strengthening Jewish life in Germany”, had the backing of all the mainstream parties.

It is likely to lead to further attempts to “cancel” artists, academics and activists. The state will use the motion as a pretext to withhold funds for galleries, exhibitions, universities and social spaces that dare to allow pro-Palestine voices.

The motion had little to do with the actual fight against antisemitism in Germany. This should have been clear when the fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD) happily voted for it. AfD politician Jurgen Braun highlighted mass immigration as “the main problem endangering Jewish life in Germany”.


Beatrix von Storch, also of the AfD, thanked the Green Party for adopting the AfD’s position on “imported Muslim antisemitism” in the resolution.

Passing a parliamentary motion does not have the effect of a law. Nevertheless, the government designed it to have a chilling effect on free speech on Israel, and to make organising solidarity for Palestine more difficult.

“It’s not a law but it will be used for repression, just as a similar motion on boycotts, disvestment and sanctions (BDS) was,” says socialist activist Ramsis Kilani.

“People who raise the question of Palestine within the main political parties are already under massive pressure,” he said. “That includes some members of parliament for the Labour-type SPD.

“But there is also pressure in the left wing Die Linke party, where it is becoming difficult to raise solidarity for the Palestinian resistance. Several party activists are now under leadership investigation.

“That’s a new development. Until recently, those with anti-imperialist politics were a minority but were accepted.”

In parliament, Die Linke abstained on the final vote, while the racist split from Die Linke, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, voted against.

Most of the left is now focused on a coming general election and is anxious to avoid controversy. That spells danger for a Palestine movement already facing massive state repression and isolation.

“We need now to resist the consequences of the parliamentary motion and support those affected, especially those without citizenship and lawyers,” says Ramsis.

“And, to be effective, we have to expand the movement. Lots of people, including college lecturers and students, will be affected by the motion. They might not share all our anti-Zionist politics but will be incensed by curbs on their freedom of speech on Palestine.

“That means there are contradictions in the situation that we can build on.”