“Excessive Jew-hatred spreads across the board”: The Berlinale debate continues. Separatists in Transnistria are likely to ask Russia for “protection” against Moldova

Journalist Michel Friedman called for more resistance after critical statements about Israel during the Berlinale gala.

Since the Hamas terrorist attack and the Israeli reactions, “a new, dramatic, anti-Semitic wave” is rolling through Germany, the former vice president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany wrote in an article for the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.

Friedman: “Anti-Semitic tendencies are becoming increasingly radical”

The conflict in the Middle East was discussed several times during the gala on Saturday. Numerous jury members and prize winners called verbally or with badges for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Statements also discussed apartheid in relation to the situation in the Israeli-occupied territories and genocide in relation to the army’s actions in Gaza.

“On the cultural scene, aggression against the State of Israel has long prevailed, and anti-Semitic tendencies are becoming increasingly radical,” Friedman wrote.

At the same time he stated:

When artists express themselves politically, they are protected by freedom of expression, not by artistic freedom, which applies to works of art. What is important is that human dignity is inviolable. “This also applies to Jewish people,” said Friedman.

During the gala there was clearly abuse of the stage, “Israel was described as an apartheid state, and there was applause for that and for the accusation of genocide and for the widespread cover-up of Hamas as a terrorist organization.”

From Friedman’s point of view, the Berlinale could have prepared for the scandal. At the same time, he criticized prominent attendees such as State Minister of Culture Claudia Roth (Greens), Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner and Senator for Culture Joe Chialo (both CDU).

After the moderation failed, the management hid behind the curtain and the artists’ opinions remained in the room due to their enormous one-sidedness. It was time to argue. “Because contradiction is also part of freedom of expression.”

Brosda: Society must engage in a public negotiation process

The Berlinale showed a lot for the Hamburg senator for culture and Carsten Brosda. The SPD politician explains to “Zeit”:

“That is why it is important to make it clear in advance how you will deal with it. No one can take this task off the hands of cultural organizers.” They would have to make new decisions again and again and endure criticism for their decision.

Those responsible for politics should carefully consider: “How far does the state’s responsibility extend to protect on the one hand and the promise of freedom, for example for artistic work, on the other?” From the perspective of lawyers, the limit for the state lies with criminal law.

“Everything else is a public negotiation process that a society must undertake. “I would have liked to see a clear contradiction from those involved in the Berlinale,” said Brosda. At the same time, the Senator for Culture warned against regulations such as anti-Semitism clauses.

Confession clauses cannot replace consideration “or even prevent any incident.”

Filmmaker: Abuse of the word anti-Semitism by Germans

During the gala, Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, who was honored together with Palestinian Basel Adra in an Israeli-Palestinian collective for the film ‘No Other Land’ about settlement policy in the West Bank, spoke about the politics of apartheid.

‘In two days we will return to a country where we are not the same’ said Abraham. “I can move freely through the country; Basel, like millions of Palestinians, is trapped in the West Bank. This situation of apartheid between us, this inequality must end.”

Abraham says he has been receiving death threats ever since. His family was also threatened. This happened after Israeli media and German politicians “absurdly described his speech as “anti-Semitic.” he wrote on the platform X that became known as Twitter.

He sees a “horrific misuse of this word by Germans” and called it “particularly scandalous” that this term was used against him. Most of his grandfather’s family was murdered by Germans during the Holocaust. (saw/sda/dpa)