Anti-Semitism on the Left: “This is an Unbearable Relativization” Netanyahu Confirms Discovery of Hamas Headquarters Beneath a Clinic

It was almost midnight when Klaus Lederer climbed the stage at the left-wing party congress on Friday. When it comes to foreign policy, the former Berlin Senator for Culture is considered a shrewd analyst and a moderate source of calm for his party, whose course on this issue is often wild – including cuddling with Putin and understanding the Hamas terrorists .

In recent years, Lederer has often spoken out at times when the left has taken a very strong position. He recently spoke out clearly against Sahra Wagenknecht in the battle over the party’s direction regarding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Now Wagenknecht is gone, but Lederer has a serious concern: anti-Semitism in his party. At current pro-Palestinian demonstrations, leftists often protest with anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic slogans. Comrades also spoke at the party congress with contributions that angered Lederer. “Dear comrades, we have a problem, a serious problem,” he says.

A conversation with Klaus Lederer about the problems of his party, the roots of left-wing anti-Semitism and simple truths.

The interview

Mr. Lederer, what led you to your speech about anti-Semitism on the left?
Klaus Lederer: The sometimes shocking reactions after October 7. In particular that of a member of the Left Party in the EU Parliament, who compared Gaza to the Warsaw Ghetto. I find this an unbearable relativization of the Holocaust. Here at the party conference I also experienced border crossings that do not belong in a left-wing party. With my speech I wanted to remind people of something very simple.

To what?
The conflict in the Middle East can be complex. But October 7 is a turning point that should make you pause and think. About what happened on October 7.

What is that from your perspective?
A well-equipped, well-prepared commando unit of hundreds of terrorists has invaded Israel – with the aim of killing as many people as possible in the most brutal manner possible. But that’s not all: they broadcast their actions via body cameras and live streams on the internet. They wanted to send a genocidal message: wherever you live, Jews, you cannot feel safe. This symbolic reference to Auschwitz was intentional. That’s what it was about. Leftists need to be clear about that!

Many of their comrades set different priorities in their speeches at the party conference. A comrade said in shock: Some things sounded like they came from Alice Weidel. What are the roots of this anti-Semitism on the left?
In modern anti-Semitism, the Jewish people are attributed great power and responsibility for the negative aspects of capitalism. Left-wingers are not immune to this either. There is also a good reflex within the left to always side with the weaker. When it comes to the conflict in the Middle East, the prevailing view is that Israel is the militarily stronger side and the Palestinians are the weaker. But that’s too simple. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and its civilian population, has many supporters, not just Iran and Hezbollah, and an ideological agenda of eliminationist anti-Semitism.

Since when are anti-Semitic views on the left strong?
After the Shoah, after the murder of millions of European Jews, there were strong traditions on the left to take seriously the need for the State of Israel as a safe space and to defend it in every respect – including with regard to Israel’s right to self-esteem. -defense. That changed with the Six-Day War of 1967.

How?
The Shoah as a rupture in civilization, the peculiarity of this fundamental attack on every form of human emancipation, has faded into the background. Instead, very superficial, one-sided partisanship in the Middle East conflict came to the fore. But many leftists also see this critically. After my speech I received a lot of support.

Are you concerned about the next generation? Greta Thunberg and Fridays for Future are also criticized for their anti-Semitism, and young leftists in particular are shouting anti-Israel slogans at pro-Palestinian protesters.
Anti-Semitism is not just a problem for young people, not even for people on the left. It is also not an imported problem, as is often claimed. It is a common and widespread problem. I am against always locating anti-Semitism somewhere else. That’s exactly part of our problem.

From your perspective, what should happen instead?
As Berlin’s Senator for Culture, I supervised the commemoration work for six years. Today’s challenge is to convey the disruption of civilization that was the Shoah in a new way and with new means to today’s generations in a diverse society. We cannot leave this behind. We must understand and admit how great our deficit is. The federal government’s cuts to democracy definitely send the wrong signal.

(t-online/dsc)