2024 was once more dominated by Israel’s ongoing genocide ln Gaza and the repression in Germany against anyone who wanted to protest against it. Demonstrations were banned, and those which did take place faced overwhelming police violence. The Bundestag passed a resolution which effectively blames Muslim non-Germans for antisemitism.
This was reflected in the most-read articles on theleftberlin.com, but lots more happened this year. The two largest economies in the EU – France and Germany – saw their government fall, as did the repressive Assad regime in Syria. We saw the worrying rise of the Far Right throughout Europe, and, in Germany at least, the parliamentary Left seem incapable of rising to the challenge.
2025 will see further struggles, with large protests expected against the AfD conference on January 11th, and elections in Germany in February. Internationally, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as US President in January, and we hope to see protests against his neoliberal racism. Palestine solidarity is as necessary as ever, and we will continue to cover the political developments both as journalists and as activists.
In the last 12 months, The Left Berlin has continued to flourish. We organised 45 Palestine Reading Groups in just over a year, and 12 public meetings and film screenings on Palestine, each attracting over 100 people. Our weekly Newsletter now goes out to nearly 3,000 people and over 9,000 people follow us on Instagram.
We will continue to offer a home for non-German activists in Berlin. We will be organising walking tours, public meetings, another Summer Camp, and Palivision 2 for people who want to boycott Eurovision. Book Club and our Reading Group will continue, and we are introducing a new monthly Film Club.
To keep informed, subscribe to our weekly Newsletter. You can also become more centrally involved in our political and/or journalistic activities. Send an email to team@theleftberlin.com to find out more. That’s enough self-promotion. Here are the 21 articles which received at least 1,000 views last year.
Most Read Article: German Elites Are Redefining Antisemitism So They Can Be the Victims Nathaniel Flakin – 6119 views
In January, Berlin cultural senator Joe Chialo announced that Berlin artists who wanted state funding would have to sign an oath of loyalty to the State of Israel. This was one of Germany’s first uses of the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition which effectively brands all criticism of Israel as antisemitic. Protests later in the year would force Chialo to withdraw the threat – for now – but at the time Nathaniel Flakin reported the political background for theleftberlin.com.
Sample quote: “German elites have convinced themselves that they ‘get’ antisemitism in a way that Jews simply can’t. They seem to have gained enlightenment through genocide.”
2. The AfD and Israel Isobel Knight – 5259 views
In May, Isobel Knight looked at the strange love in between a party full of Fascists and the self-declared “Jewish State”. The AfD and Israel share an Islamophobic, anti-immigrant agenda, and even before October 7th, the AfD was one of Israel’s biggest supporters. Backing Israel has not prevented leading AfD members from repeatedly making antisemitic statements, or from congratulating other parties for supporting Germany’s “antisemitism clause” which blames Muslims for the country’s antisemitism.
Sample quote: “A party that will so readily turn human lives into political pawns, atrocities into justification for bigotry, is a true danger to society, both in Germany and abroad. ”
3. Dominick Fernow (Prurient) Releases Split Album with Neo-Nazi Band Genocide Organ Antifascist Music Alliance – 3832 views
Last year’s most-read article, written in June 2023, continued to reach a large audience. The Antifascist Music Alliance, who regularly write for theleftberlin.com on the politics of the Berlin music scene, uncovered the increasing presence of white supremacist bands in local clubs. In particular, they singled out Dominick Fernow, aka Vatican Shadow/Prurient and called on Berlin’s music platforms and clubs like Berghain to support the boycott called against Fernow.
Sample quote: “The refusal from Resident Advisor, Pitchfork and Berghain to publicly address why they actively supported him while knowing about his fascist ties, is a big part of why he feels comfortable enough to make a comeback.”
4. Boycott of Berghain: from March 2024 to now Antifascist Music Alliance – 3507 views
Speaking of Berghain, in November this year, the Antifascist Music Alliance published an update on the ongoing campaign by artists to boycott Berghain. The boycott, supported by groups like Ravers for Palestine and DJs Against Apartheid, condemns Berghain’s ongoing silence on genocide in Palestine. This is particularly hypocritical from a club which has been very vocal on Ukraine. The article contains interviews with artists about their involvement in the boycott campaign.
Sample quote: “As we’ve seen in other solidarity efforts, it’s those with the least wealth, structural privilege and access that are standing with Palestine. ”
5. A discussion on Antisemitism with almost no Jews Nathaniel Flakin interviews Daniel (Jüdische Stimme) – 3236 views
In April, the anti-Deutsch club ://about blank organised a panel discussion on antisemitism. Four of the five speakers were not Jewish, and the fifth was only added to the platform at the last minute. Jewish anti-Zionists were denied entry, and a protest led by Jews was held outside the event. Daniel, a member of the Jüdische Stimme, infiltrated the event and found it to be superficial and uninspiring. Nathaniel Flakin interviewed Daniel about his experience.
Sample quote: “Throughout the 2.5 hour discussion, none of the speakers was able to provide any concrete opinions, facts, or strategies about hatred toward Jewish people nor strategies on Jewish safety.”
6. “I believe that there is going to be a wave of deportations coming soon” Phil Butland interviews Nadija Samour – 3179 views
In November, on the day that the German government fell, one of its last acts was to introduce a new “antisemitism resolution.” We talked to Palestinian lawyer Nadija Samour from the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) about its implications. Nadija explained that because the resolution is not a law, it cannot be challenged in court. But it will still be used to ban meetings and withdraw public funding. More worrying, she anticipates it being used to deport many Muslims who support Palestine.
Sample quote: “This reminds us of the older, colonial idea of the barbarians. That’s what is meant when they discuss so-called imported antisemitism.”
7. When a Zionist Riot is Reported as an Antisemitic Pogrom Phil Butland – 2913 views
In November, fans of Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv rioted through Amsterdam. Politicians and media worldwide reported the response by locals with migrant backgrounds as “hateful antisemitic violence” and even a “pogrom”. Phil Butland looked behind the headlines to see a coordinated attack by fans of a team with a history of racism. Many of those fans have experience in the Israeli army’s genocidal attack of Gaza. He concluded that Amsterdamers were right to defend themselves.
Sample quote: “Those who say that this is just about football do not understand how a murderous ideology can take over a whole culture.”
8. Saltanat Nukenova’s Murder Highlights Kazakhstan’s Femicides Isobel Knight – 2705 views
In April, Isobel Knight reported on the televised trial of Kazakhstan’s former Minister of Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev, accused of murdering his wife after beating her in a restaurant. The restaurant owner, a relative of Bishimbayev, did not report the incident. The case, which did not receive widespread coverage in the Western press, was the most prominent of many cases of femicide in the country. Bishimbayev was sentenced to 24 years in prison in May. It is not clear whether he will serve the full term.
Sample quote: “this whole trial unfortunately only emphasises the fact that in Kazakhstan, beating and killing women is not a serious offence.”
9. The philosemitic Delusions of Sascha Lobo Dan Weissmann – 2091 views
In April, Dan Weissmann reported on “alpha blogger” and columnist Sascha Lobo. Since October 7th, Lobo has made a career of repeating Isrsaeli press releases in Der Spiegel. He describes reports of deaths and injury in Gaza as “Hamas propaganda” and is reluctant to provide evidence. In February, when the UNWRA aid agency was about the organisation keeping Gazans alive, he called for its disbandment, accusing it of having overlapping interests with Hamas. Lobo’s reports fit a sadly familiar German narrative.
Sample quote: “there is no evidence that Lobo has ever engaged meaningfully with any scholarship or literature other than those sanctioned by the German state.”
10. Why You Should Boycott Eurovision if Israel is Allowed to Compete Ciaran Dold – 1913 views
In March, Corner Späti’s Ciaran Dold – a Eurovision fan – wrote us a guest article on Israel’s participation in the competition. While arguing that Eurovision can be a force for good, Ciaran argued for a boycott in a year of genocide, pointing out the hypocrisy of a European Broadcasting Union. The EBU claimed that it could do nothing but had happily banned Russia in 2022. Listing many examples of past interventions, Ciaran argues that Eurovision has always been political and this is something we should celebrate.
Sample quote: “if Russia can get banned for an invasion, Belarus can get banned for media repression, but Israel can remain, the EBU is sending a pretty clear signal that Palestinian lives don’t matter.”
11. “I think we’re at a very dangerous tipping point” Phil Butland interviews Zoë Claire Miller – 1703 views
In April, at the height of artists’ demonstrations for freedom of expression, we interviewed Zoë Claire Miller, spokesperson of the Berlin artists’ union. Although the union has a range of opinions on Palestine, Zoë stressed that they were united in defending freedom of speech and artistic expression. She argued that attacks by politicians and the right wing press are endangering artists, and new legislation is threatening to hinder not just pro-Palestine art, but also actions against Fascism in Germany.
Sample quote: “Germany seems to be damaging its reputation as a liberal, open-minded and welcoming locus of cultural exchange.”
12. International Cultural Workers Called on to Boycott German Cultural Institutions Antifascist Music Alliance – 1534 views
In January, the Antifascist Music Alliance reported on the Strike Germany movement which was planning cultural and academic boycotts on Germany because of the country’s support for Israel. Actions were planned particularly against Berlin, which gains cultural cachet through its reputation as a home of international culture. The article came shortly after the cancellation by the left-wing Volksbühne theatre of British politician Jeremy Corbyn. It concludes by calling on more Artists to join the boycott.
Sample quote: “With their willingness to censor Palestinians and those who speak in solidarity with them, it looks like Berghain, Volksbühne and other cultural spaces like them are willing and hoping to profit in the Berlin Senate’s McCarthyist era.”
Other articles with more than 1,000 views
- Best of recent German-language Cinema Phil Butland – 1480 views
- “A lot of Palestinians here have the feeling of being invisible” Molly Hill interviews Anna Younes – 1362 views
- German magazine Der Spiegel attacks Jewish student Nathaniel Flakin – 1335 views
- Artists and Musicians in Germany Speak Out Against Genocide of Palestinians Antifascist Music Alliance – 1295 views
- Why German Media are Lying About the Palestine Solidarity Movement at the Free University of Berlin Nathaniel Flakin – 1285 views
- “Actions like this are a symbol for the liberation struggle. It’s an uprising against the right wing In Germany” Phil Butland interviews Iris Hefets – 1234 views
- Where does Die LINKE Stand? – Simo Dorn interviews Christine Buchholz 1206 views
- Dear German activists, I have some questions on integrity Habe Attia Mousa – 1121 views
- German Culture must Confront its Past Emily O’Sullivan – 1121 views
- When British pubs said “Black Troops Only” Judy Cox – 1043 views
- Berlin Judge declares “From the River to the Sea” chant to be illegal Roser Gari Perez – 1003 views
