German singer Gil Ofarim accused a hotel employee of making discriminatory comments towards him in 2021 because Ofarim is Jewish.
The case went to trial in November this year and has now been dismissed. The reason: Ofarim admitted on Tuesday that he had lied.
The singer said in an online video message that he wore a necklace with a Star of David visible when checking into the Leipzig Hotel “Westin”. A hotel employee, Mr W., then asked him to remove the chain.
“Mr. W., I would like to apologize to you. I’m sorry, I deleted the video,” German news portal “Focus” quoted Ofarim from the courtroom. The hotel employee accepted the apology. The judge also ordered Ofarim to donate 10,000 euros to two Israelite religious communities in Germany.
Central Council of Jews with a clear statement
After the confession, there have been numerous reactions to the current developments. The Central Council of Jews in Germany criticized Ofarim particularly sharply. The umbrella organization published this statement on X:
For two years #GilOfarim Employees of a hotel in Leipzig accused of anti-Semitism. Now he has admitted that he lied. By doing this, Gil Ofarim has caused great harm to everyone actually affected by anti-Semitism. In addition to the public,… pic.twitter.com/avDWJ3GUQa
– Central Council of Jews in Germany (@ZentralratJuden) November 28, 2023
The singer lied not only to the public, but also to the Jewish community. According to the Central Council, this behavior is particularly harmful in the current political situation, because many people currently experience hatred and rejection of Jews. Accusations of anti-Semitism should never be made without justification. (yam)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
