The Israeli-Palestinian conflict spills into Europe

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An ultra Orthodox Jew holds a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's air strikes on Gaza in London, July 11.
An ultra Orthodox Jew holds a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel’s air strikes on Gaza in London, July 11.
Berlin – Before the start of a pro-Palestinian rally — one of the scores being staged almost daily here since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza — an organizer on a bullhorn yelled out the do’s and don’ts as ordered last week by the Berlin police.

No burning the Israeli flag. No shouts of “Death to Israel.” And absolutely no repeating the slogan “Jew, Jew, cowardly pig, come out and fight alone” — a rhyming chant in German that had become increasingly common at pro-Palestinian rallies here before being nipped in the bud by German authorities.

Some demonstrators may have said such things, conceded Leila El Abtah, a 29-year-old protester who is the daughter of a Palestinian father and a German mother. But, she insisted, even thoughtful criticism against Israel is being misinterpreted here as hate speech. “There are more of us speaking out about Israel now,” she said. “Because of what happened during Hitler’s day, it is making Germans nervous.”

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is echoing on the streets of Europe, sparking a rash of protests — both peaceful and violent — and ratcheting up tensions across the continent. Last Saturday in London, 45,000 protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy, chanting, “Free Palestine.” In France, a nation already facing an uptick in anti-Semitic violence before the Israeli strikes on Gaza, pro-Palestinian youths last week looted and set fire to Jewish businesses in a suburb of Paris. French authorities have banned anti-Israel protests, but thousands of young demonstrators have defied it, engaging police with rocks and bottles.

Yet perhaps nowhere are the deeds of protesters sparking more discomfort than here in Germany, where the most radical protest chants are rattling through the streets of Berlin like disturbing ghosts of the past.

There have been pro-Israel demonstrations, too, but few have been as large or as vehement as their pro-Palestinian counterparts. For politicians, the news media and broader German society, the outburst of rage aimed at Israel and, many argue, Jews in general, is testing both the limits of freedom of speech and the weight of history in Western Europe’s most populous nation.

“We’re aware that the world is watching us, how we’re handling the situation,” said Berlin police spokesman Stefan Redlich, adding that one person has already been charged with incitement for allegedly shouting “Heil Hitler!” during a protest. “It’s clearly part of the right of freedom of expression to criticize states that are waging wars. [But] it’s one thing to criticize the way Israel leads a war and another to call for people from Israel to get hurt. That’s the red line.”

To be sure, the face of rage here now bears little resemblance to the 1930s and 1940s. Some ethnic Germans have joined the protests, but the majority of those taking to the streets are part of a vast pool of Muslim immigrants and their German-born children.

The protests are rattling Germany’s fast-growing Jewish population, which in Berlin alone has tripled to nearly 30,000 since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

One imam at Berlin’s Al-Nur Mosque is now under investigation for recently calling on God to smite all “Zionist Jews.” Last week, a group of roughly 30 Muslims gathered outside an empty Berlin synagogue and hurled anti-Semitic abuse from the street.

“They pursue the Jews in the streets of Berlin . . . as if we were in 1938,” Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, the Israeli ambassador to Germany, recently decried in the Berliner Zeitung newspaper.

Levi Salomon, spokesman for a group that campaigns against anti-Semitism in Germany, said the Jewish community was shocked by photographs taken at a Berlin demonstration last week where the clothes of live children were brushed with red paint. To some, such images allude to the death of Palestinian children in the Israeli strikes on Gaza. But Jewish leaders here have condemned them as a revival of anti-Semitic myths that paint Jews as child killers who used their blood in religious rituals.

“I’ve monitored anti-Semitism in Germany for 20 years, but this is the worst image I’ve seen,” Salomon said.

Even Jewish leaders here say the situation in Germany is not as bad as in neighboring France, where a fierce strain of anti-Semitic violence has the Jewish community feeling under siege. But there are some signs that things here may also be taking a turn for the worse. On Tuesday night in the German city of Wuppertal, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a synagogue (it landed in the street, causing no damage). Last Thursday night, Israel Daos, a shy 18-year-old Orthodox Jew, was punched in the face on his way to a synagogue in central Berlin. Daos described his assailant as “Arab or Turkish.”

“I heard what the protesters had been saying, because they march not far from here and I have heard them shout, ‘Death to Jews!’ ” said Daos, offering a nervous smile through his braces. “But I did not think things would get this bad.”

The outbreak of protests has triggered an alarm bell within German society, with leading politicians and the news media decrying a new rash of anti-Semitism that must be immediately stamped out.

Kai Diekmann — chief editor of Germany’s influential Bild tabloid, whose parent company sponsors work-stays for reporters in Israel to foster understanding of Jewish culture — issued a personal appeal to all Germans to raise their voices against anti-Semitism. In one piece responding to the rage on German streets, Bild featured descriptions of the groups taking part under the headline: “Who are the new Jew haters.”

The government of German Chancellor Angela Merkel has lashed out against the protests in unusually blunt terms: “These outburst and statements are an attack on freedom and tolerance and an attempt to destabilize our free democratic order. We cannot and will not accept this. . . . The security authorities are taking every attack onto a Jewish institution very seriously. Anti-Semitic acts are being prosecuted consequently and by all legal means.”

Organizers of pro-Palestinian rallies say that some protesters, in the heat of the moment, have indeed gone too far. But they say that rally organizers are now trying to follow new guidelines issued by police that forbid the use of anti-Semitic and violent slogans. They argue that their rage is directed at Israeli bombs, not Jews.

The holocaust at the hands of Nazi Germany, they claim, has robbed Germany of its ability to be objective on Israel. Some European politicians — including Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nicholas Clegg — have openly criticized Tel Aviv for disproportionate force. But Merkel, pro-Palestinian critics here note, has been unwavering in her support of Israel.

“Merkel shows only solidarity with Israel,” complained Ibrahim Ibrahim, 59, a member of the pro-Palestinian protests’ organizing committee. “Because of Germany’s past, she cannot be open minded.”

Washington Post

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28 responses to “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict spills into Europe”

  1. A picture of a Good man!!!

    1. Anti ISIS Avatar
      Anti ISIS

      Brother there are many honest Jewish people around the world that want nothing but to live in peace. This man is most certainly one of them.

      1. Amen to that Farq, I just hope it wasn’t Cookie in a costume trying to spy on the real protesters lol

        1. Anti ISIS Avatar
          Anti ISIS

          I don’t think so Bro, the man above looks to honest and humble to be Cookie. You can see the peacefulness in his eyes. Cookie eyes on the other hand would show the look of the devil. lol

    2. cook2half Avatar
      cook2half

      Hitler forgot this one

      1. You are one nasty ugly ass Cookie =D

        1. cook2half Avatar
          cook2half

          My appetite is gone after looking at the ape above lol

    3. The picture is of a man that is dressed up to impress you that he’s supposedly religious but in fact he’s a total fake. It would be the same thing as if he held up a cheese burger for it is as Kosher as he and the fake flag he is holding and the 🤡🤡 clown outfit he is wearing. Don’t be fooled by people wearing these outfits for 3/4 of them are NOT authentic Jews

  2. Leborigine Avatar
    Leborigine

    Didn’t Nostradamus predict that world war III will start in the middle east?

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      He didn’t know Putin …

      1. Leborigine Avatar
        Leborigine

        I actually don’t mind Putin, my only single problem with Putin is his support to our arch enemy, the syrians!

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          But I don’t know why ‘The Europeans’ are not protesting Russians the same way as Gazan/Israelis … after all, that’s a little closer to the home-fuel business. 😉

      2. Anti ISIS Avatar
        Anti ISIS

        Yep, and he also didn’t know George W Bush. Remember the crap Bush sold to the world, “The war on Terror”

        1. nagy_michael2 Avatar
          nagy_michael2

          Yah the idiot didn’t know that Iraq will end up between Iran and ISIS..

    2. He predicted that the worst waves of terrorism would occur there after Saddam Hussein would be killed.

  3. As a result of the explosion in the market area Sadzhayie in Gaza City, killing about 30 people and more than 200 were injured. It is not confirmed that in the market area IDF conducted hostilities market was not among the targets

  4. Iran is attempting to replenish Hamas rocket arsenal

  5. U.S. agreed to help Israel with ammunition

  6. -The ad says that you can take the quest – the half-elf said the mayor. – But it does not explain the essence. Could you clarify?

    Yes, – shrugged mayor. – Do you see that hill? Goblin sat down with the grenade. And periodically shelled the city. That’s the whole problem.

    -Yeah, of course. To kill a goblin …
    What you, what you are!? – Mayor stared and waved his arms. – Its not in any way can be killed!

    Why? – Dwarf surprised. – It’s a goblin!
    -That’s it! If we kill him, the world community will say that it is a genocide, and we are racists.

    -So what? Let him speak what he wants.
    AND introduce troops – grimly finished his thought Mayor.

    -Hmm … thought half-elf. – That is, this motherfucker is shooting at you from a grenade launcher, and you suffer and do not dare to fight back?

    Do not dare – shrugged mayor. – Otherwise, we called the aggressors.

    -Well, and if, for example, not to kill a goblin, and drive him somewhere far away?

    -With its hill? Impossible. Then call us occupiers.

    Catch-and select the launcher?
    Expropriating.
    -Locked up with a grenade launcher? .. Okay, okay, do not answer, – half-elf said quickly when Mayor opened his mouth. – I get it. Indeed, an interesting case.

    -Well, what do you want from us? – Princess broke. – You can not kill, can not disarm, catch and chase too impossible, and then what is left? To re? It is not our profile.

    No, you … For this work we would have called a psychologist. But, by the way, if the world community would blame us in providing psychological pressure.

    -And desecrating indigenous traditions – added Gnome, solidly shaking his head. – Shoot from a grenade launcher on little people – it’s goblins holy!

    -That’s it – happily exclaimed Mayor – you know what I mean.

    Well-us-what is required? – Again barged Princess.

    -Deliver the parcel – mayor sighed.
    -Who? Goblin?

    -Well, yes. For there, on the hill, there is no food reserves. An hour later, the goblin hungry, declare a truce and begin negotiations. He does so every day. Demands that he brought food, wine, weapons, sometimes something else … And then, when feels full, declares that the peace talks have stalled and he was forced to resume fire. World public opinion he was very sympathetic. Believes he principle.

    -And if you refuse to provide him with food and weapons …
    Then tell us about that …

    -Okay, okay, we realized – waved his hands half-elf.
    – … and introduce troops – Mayor mumbled.

    -Well, and we have something you why? Would send one of his carry bag.

    -We sent already. Nobody returned.
    What goblin killed them all?

    -He claims that there is.
    A …
    A world community believes him.

    A …
    -And then say that we provocateurs. You see, this is it, goblin, exhibits peace initiative, it is a gesture of goodwill. And if something goes wrong, it is only our fault. Obviously the same! And you … well, sort of like outsiders you he can not touch you.

    -Well, – summed up the half-elf. – If we reject all political husk, then we are required to take at the customer premise and take it to the client, right? Normal postal quest. But everything else – just your problem. So?

    -That’s right – confirmed Mayor – then, okay?
    -It’s a deal – half-elf nodded. Burgermeister relieved.

    -You can question? – Princess raised her hand. – Here you are so afraid that the world community will call you aggressors, or warlords, or even worse than – as you called now?

    Idiots – Mayor replied sadly. http://bormor.livejournal.com/748059.html

  7. First they say they are only against zionists but not jews, but when they can’t deal with zionists they blame and take it out on the local jews because jews are weaker than zionists. It happened this way in Arab countries first by Atabs blaming local jews for far away zionists. Now arabs are doing it in europe since few jews left in arab lands because of this scapegoating.

  8. Since the start of military operations in eastern Ukraine was killed 363 Ukrainian servicemen

  9. Austrian President goes to visit Iran

  10. shoot this jew

  11. The Tomfool🤡 is questionably a Jew. When you put a fox in sheep’s clothing, is he now a fox? The 🤡 clown dresses up to look Jewish but in fact, he 100% a FAKE. “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” There were NO Muslims existing at the time when Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, where were these Muslims? Where were the Muslims at the time of the First & Second Holy Jewish Temples, where were they? At the time of Jesus, where were these Muslims? Palestina was given the Land of Israel by the Romans as they despised the name Israel. When did the imaginary Palestinians appear on the scene? Where were they at the time of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob? Israel was promised by GOD to the Jewish People and that is who is going to dwell there till the end of ttime

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