Commenting in Berlin on today’s scheduled meeting of the Supervisory Board to discuss developments at the Berlinale, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, said:

‘The Berlinale Supervisory Board meeting scheduled for this morning presents everyone involved with a dilemma: in essence it revolves round the fact that pro-Palestinian groups in Germany have long since succeeded, both nationally and internationally, in painting a distorted picture of Germany, by creating an outcry against restricted freedom of expression and censorship in Germany as soon as the topic of Israel and the Palestinians is on the agenda.

For these pro-Palestinian groups, the actions of the Israeli troops are quickly labelled genocide, which is supported by the German government of course through arms deliveries and other aid, and for which it is therefore jointly responsible. For all those arguing on the Palestinian side, the State of Israel is violent, corrupt and morally bankrupt. As their hate-filled chants clearly show - they maintain it has long since lost any right to exist as a state and should disappear from the map.

Anyone who makes references to historical contexts or to Holocaust survivors, for whom the State of Israel will always be their land of safety and refuge, is invariably met with aggressive reactions.  And they cannot be calmed, not even by pointing out that everyone – both inside and outside Israel – has the right to criticise Israel’s military actions and the government of Netanyahu.

In Germany, we, as friends of people and families in Israel for many years, have long since lost the narrative. It is being shaped by those who danced with joy and handed out sweets on the streets of Neukölln after the massacre on 7 October. And it is being shaped by those whose campaign against imperialist violence has become self-righteous and cocooned within its hatred of Israel and the associated anti-Semitism. These campaigners are now even deaf to the voices from Israel that are critical of Netanyahu and his policies.

In the past, similar critical voices could also be heard among the Palestinians. But now, it seems to be too late. Many are desperately waiting to hear the voice of reason. Among the survivors of the Holocaust in particular, there are many who do not want their lives to end in a desert of hatred. That is why they trust Germany not to let itself be provoked, but instead to remain a reliable dialogue partner that does not respond to hatred and defamation with censorship and expulsion.

Would it not have been more sensible to discuss the Palestinian scenario in preparation before the Berlinale? And it would it not have been advisable for Environment Minister Schneider, rather than fleeing, to first consult Ms Tuttle and speak up – for the future?’