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Sascha Schultz

Quds Day Berlin, July 25th

The Berlin Quds Day demonstration on Friday afternoon was more peaceful than expected.
Berlin Police officials were content with the course. German politicians and media offend anti-semitism.

Yesterday afternoon the international Quds Day was held up in Berlin at George-Grosz-Platz just a minute from Kurfuerstendamm. As official and media reports said, between 1,500 and 2,000 people joined the demonstration, much more than in the years before. The recent conflict between Israel and the Hamas in Gaza has been lightening the awareness amongst Palestinian activists in Germany since almost three weeks with pro Gaza demonstrations all over Germany. The anti-semitic mood which comes from most of the often verbally aggressive gatherings, were to be held at low level on this Friday. The Berlin Police banned anti-israeli and anti-semitic claims such as “child murderer” or the burning of puppets and flags (which should be a matter of course in Germany).

As youngsters tried to defame Israel and the pro Israel counter-demonstration some dozen meters away, the situation almost escalated as eye witnesses and videos prove.

According to Berlin Tagesspiegel, a group of 20 to 30 people claimed “Gas Israel”, which could not be confirmed by the Police.

Previously to the Quds demonstration in Berlin, the chaiman of the German-Israel parliamentary group at the German Bundestag, Mr Volker Beck (Greens), called the Quds day an event of hatred in an interview to the Deutsche Welle broadcasting. Beside every criticism to the Israeli policy towards Gaza, the aggressive and hateful tension which is claimed against Israel by organizers and participants of such manifestations is absolutely unacceptable, Beck said.

The German “Bild”-Zeitung titled on its Friday front cover an appeal of politicians and celebrities against anti-semitism and hatred against Jews and invited the readers to raise their voices.

About the Author
Studies of history, romance languages, public and criminal law at University of Hamburg. Works as freelance author.