this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2025
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Europe

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143
Democratic freedoms at risk as Germany’s new government prioritises support for Israel. (www.middleeastmonitor.com)
submitted 3 days ago by PeaceLove@lemmy.world to c/europe@feddit.org
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[–] EuroMod@feddit.org 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Under German law (ianal), comparing Israel's actions to the Holocaust may be considered a criminal offence, i.e. Israel-related antisemitism (German explanation). We are trying to follow German law here - the servers are in Austria, the mods are not necessarily though.

It also makes sense to avoid these comparisons for basic common decency and piety reasons.

As such, I'd urge you to steer clear of these comparisons. Thank you. /f

In European democracies, variations of a modernized anti-Semitism remain predominant, using various ciphers and allusions, among other things. Two aspects stand out here: (i) On the one hand, new conspiracy myths stand out alongside forms of subtle Holocaust relativization and trivialization. Ultimately, these almost always identify Jews as the "string-pullers". This is no coincidence: anti-Semitism is the historical conspiracy narrative of all. One prominent example is the claims that the Jewish patron George Soros is behind either a global "great population exchange" or the coronavirus crisis: Corona crisis is the Jewish patron George Soros - although his Jewish identity is often not explicitly mentioned. (ii) On the other hand, an aggressive hostility towards the Jewish state acts as an important medium for articulating and spreading contemporary anti-Semitism: Israel - the internationally "most important and succinct symbol of Jewish life and survival" (Schwarz-Friesel & Reinharz 2013, 172) - as well as against "the Zionists" (a now almost universally used cipher for "the Jews"). Link has preview pop-upInternal link: Anti-Semitic conspiracy myths and hostility towards Israel often end up appearing together.

(BPB, DeepL translation)

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I respect the considerations the mods have to be conscious of, but can I ask if this is the stance of feddit.org or just this community? Unfortunately I’ll have to block any group that requires complicity to genocide by ignoring the elephant in the room. Again, nothing personal.

[–] EuroMod@feddit.org 2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (2 children)

but can I ask if this is the stance of feddit.org or just this community?

Quote from the feddit.org sidebar:

Content that is illegal in Germany, Austria or Switzerland will be deleted and can lead to an immediate ban of the account.

Unfortunately I’ll have to block any group that requires complicity to genocide by ignoring the elephant in the room.

I don't know what you regard as the elephant in the room.

You can apply the word "genocide" to the Gaza war here (although so far, legally, we are at "suspected genocide"). You can also call Netanyahu "corrupt" or a "war criminal". You can call Smotrich a "fascist".

But if to you, calling out the elephant in the room hinges on saying stuff like "x politician is literally Hitler", "y city is literally Auschwitz" or "z war action is literally Holocaust", then it may indeed be best to refrain from posting on this server. Besides legalities, I find all of these examples not helpful in understanding reality, because usually all the details are different. They're also in bad taste, given the large number of Jewish victims of historical Nazi reign. And I'd question your motivation for saying these things.

Final thing: You may also not question the statehood of Israel. I.e., no discussing "one-state solutions". But this is not a Mid-East community anyway.

/f

[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 51 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I'm German and this completely changed how i view my dear fellow Germans...

I'm sure we will look back in shame in the future. This is against compassion, humanity and protection of the innocent.

Germany lost the ability to stand on a moral high ground.

But what really concerns me, is how much influence Israel has around the world.

I'm not talking about Jews.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 26 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Antizionist Jews are disproportionately affected by repressive measures in Germany. It even goes as far as the federal and some state level commissioners for "combating antisemitism and Jewish life" attacking Jews with the "wrong" political opinions as "Allegedly Jewish" or otherwise entitling themselves to decide who are the "good" and who are the "bad" Jews.

https://jewishcurrents.org/the-strange-logic-of-germanys-antisemitism-bureaucrats
https://granta.com/once-again-germany-defines-who-is-a-jew-part-i/

[–] Tomassci@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 hours ago

Zionist Antisemitism is a widespread thing, sadly.

[–] atro_city@fedia.io 16 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Being anti-zionist =/= being anti-semitic. You're good.

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

If only the German government saw it this way. Public discourse is sadly being swallowed by fascist rhetoric when it comes to this and mirrors what actual Nazis had to say and still do say about Israel.

Albert Einstein on the other hand saw the Likud (Netanyahu‘s political party) for what it is: Fascist in nature. But hey, when was Einstein ever right about anything? He‘s probably just an anti-semite too. /s

[–] Bibbiliop@lemmy.world 35 points 2 days ago (3 children)

When I first emigrated to Germany, I had so high hopes and opinions of this country and people living here. I had seen protests, counter protests, people talking about hard topics, cherishing democracy.

Now, I am disappointed. Looking for a way out. I feel like a criminal because I am against genocide and I support the ICC. I mean a court that it’s main responsibility is to prevent tragedies such as the Holocaust should be supported right?

Things are moving in a direction that makes no sense to me anymore. I feel like an alien

[–] Melchior@feddit.org 12 points 2 days ago

and the bad part is that it is not just Gaza. The same beat downs happen with climate protests and even anti far right protests. Germany is moving to the right and it sucks badly.

[–] Wanpieserino@lemm.ee 5 points 2 days ago

Now that's the good thing bout the EU. You can pack up and go to another one quite easily.

[–] huppakee@lemm.ee 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Aside from Germany, does anybody know if more countries are siding with South-Africa than before? I feel like every government is just digging into their position and whatever cruel thing happens doesn't really change anything anymore, at least not at the government level.

[–] Melchior@feddit.org 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Macron is talking about recognizing Israel, which Spain, Norway and Ireland have done as well in response to the war in Gaza. Nicaragua is suing Germany over weapon deliveries and Namibia has seized a ship to prevent weapon deliveries to Israel. Pretty much every country, which is not a close ally of the US is siding with Palestine on the issue and quite a few US allies have done things, which are rather anti Israel.

[–] huppakee@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago

recognizing Palestine I think you mean, but thanks. I feel the pressure from countries that aren't us allies doesn't add up to meaningful difference. Not so far I guess. So I'm just hoping more and more us allies put pressure on the us and israel, which will only happen if countries currently supporting Palastine wil pressure these us allies to move away from backing Israel.

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

This is such a devastatingly regressive step for humanity and global politics.