NEWS FROM BERLIN
“From the river to the sea” leads to condemnation
The pro-Palestinian slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” has led to the first conviction in Berlin for using the ’emblems of a terrorist organisation’. A 42-year-old Berlin woman was sentenced to a fine of 1,300 euros at the regional court – to be paid in 130 daily instalments. The accused is said to have spread the slogan on two occasions via her publicly accessible Instagram account on the internet. The offence was committed around a year ago. The lawyer of those convicted has already announced that she intends to appeal. Source: rbb
Greens accuse Senator Chialo of “burning” money from the anti-Semitism pot
Green MP Susanna Kahlefeld has accused the Berliner Administration for Culture and Social Cohesion of misusing funds from the 10 million € fund for projects related to anti-Semitism and interreligious dialogue. Since this sum was added to the budget at short notice by the current Berlin CDU-SPD government, Kahlefeld has regularly asked how the money is being used. In the response to an information request (as of yet unpublished), some of these projects seem to show little reference to anti-Semitism. For example, half a million euros might go to ‘Kiezradar’, a digital information channel, which intends to inform citizens about important events in general, highlighting opportunities for participation. Source: rbb
Horror at Forum Köpenick: video allegedly shows man shooting into snack bar
A video from a surveillance camera, which is circulating on social media, allegedly shows a suspected shooter firing at Forum Köpenick. It shows a man with his hood pulled over his head at 10.53 am. The perpetrator calmly approaches the shop and takes a gun out of his jacket pocket. But he subsequently has problems with his weapon. Then he apparently takes out a second gun, aims and shoots through the window. He misses the snack bar employee, who is working at the cooker and throws himself on the floor when the shop window shatters. The armed perpetrator has been on the run since. Source: berliner-kurier
NEWS FROM GERMANY
Bundestag votes by a large majority in favour of motion against hatred of Jews
On 7 November 2024 the Bundestag debated a cross-party motion for decisive action against anti-Semitism in Germany. The proposal by the SPD, CDU/CSU, Alliance 90/The Greens and FDP is entitled “Never again is now – protecting, preserving and strengthening Jewish life in Germany” (20/13627). The German Bundestag observed that Jewish life and culture once again exist in Germany after the National Socialist dictatorship and despite the Shoah. Their existence is a “special declaration of trust” in the country, the MPs emphasised. The parliamentary groups also observed the increase in anti-Semitic attacks, demonstrations and criminal offences. Source: bundestag
Downfall of Germany’s governing coalition
The “traffic-light” coalition has collapsed amid divisions over economic plans. Germany’s Free Democrats (FDP) withdrew all ministers from the Scholz government, formally ending the three-party “Ampel” coalition. A minority government is not completely new to Germany, although they have been rare at the federal, rather than state, level. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) says a vote of confidence is planned for January. Among possible future alliances, each party has shown their own interest. For instance, CDU and its Bavarian sister party, CSU, ruled out joining a coalition with the SPD as a junior partner under Chancellor Scholz. Currently, these conservative parties seem to be more interested in pushing for new elections. Source: dw
AfD expels ‘Saxonian Separatist’ militants
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) says it is expelling three party members over connections to the “Saxonian Separatists.” The group follows Nazi ideology and seeks to use social collapse to seize parts of eastern Germany. The day before the announcement, police arrested eight suspects in connection with the group. Prosecutors said the militants share a deep rejection of Germany’s free and democratic constitutional order and an ideology underpinned by racist, anti-Semitic and apocalyptic beliefs. The leaders of the AfD, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, said in a statement that they supported the expulsions. Source: dw
BDI calls for ‘sovereignty’
The German industrial lobby wants to better control “raw material sovereignty”. Under a Brandt-ian motto, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) met in Berlin and its president, Siegfried Russwurm, affirmed that Germany’s dependence on critical raw materials is “higher than ever” and requires political action. His arguments were based on a study, co-produced by the association and a management consultant firm. Its main demand is a package of measures to strengthen domestic raw material extraction and processing, the strengthening of existing and new raw material co-operations and the expansion of the circular economy. They propose a three-pronged strategy: “Domestic promotion plus international alliances plus technological innovation.” Source: jungewelt
