The leadership of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) on Tuesday waded into the highly charged debate over alleged anti-Semitism within the ranks of the far-left party that won Berlin’s state election, as an expert called the accusations “overblown.”
“Anti-Semitic phrases have no place in our society or our politics,” wrote Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil in post on Instagram with his fellow party co-leader Bärbel Bas and General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf.
“Social Democrats fight anti-Semitism, every form of hatred and organized crime,” they added, warning hatred of Jews should not be allowed “the slightest foothold.”
The Left – a successor of the socialist party that ruled the former East Germany – won a clear victory in Sunday’s vote, putting its lead candidate, Elif Eralp, in prime position to become the party’s first mayor of Berlin, and the city’s first leader with Turkish heritage.
But the party, which took 25.7% of the vote, will have to rely on the SPD and the Greens to form a coalition government – and the fallout from its victory has been a renewed focus on anti-Semitism from media outlets and rivals.
Both potential partners have called on The Left to take concrete steps to demonstrate its commitment to protecting Jewish life in the capital, amid accusations that it failed to condemn anti-Semitism during the election campaign.
The issue rose in importance after a campaign event in the Neukölln district – which has a large Arab population – featured a rapper who chanted “Death to the IDF” in a reference to the Israeli military.
Mayoral hopeful Eralp, 45, distanced herself from the comments and has disputed allegations of anti-Semitism within the party. In May, she published a five-point plan in which she vowed to protect Jewish life in Berlin.
But she has faced growing calls for more decisive action, including from representatives of the Jewish community.
Israel’s ambassador to Germany on Tuesday warned of an “immediate existential threat” to the Jewish community in Berlin in light of The Left’s win.
“The strong performance of The Left in the Berlin election should concern everyone who cares about the continued existence of Jewish life in this city,” Ron Prosor told dpa, accusing the party of having displayed “utterly uninhibited anti-Semitism.”
Kerstin Wolter, head of The Left’s Berlin chapter, strongly rejected the accusations.
“I reject, with all due respect and clarity, the accusation of ‘utterly uninhibited’ and ‘systematic’ anti-Semitism within our party, as levelled by Ambassador Prosor,” she told dpa.
“Israel’s right to exist and the protection of Jewish life are clear positions adopted by The Left. And that is precisely what we will stand up for.”
Wolter said it was true that her party “clearly criticizes the current Israeli government’s policies; that is part and parcel of a democracy.”
“However, it is unfair to dismiss this criticism across the board as anti-Semitism. We are just as unequivocal in our denial of any form of glorification of terrorism and incitement to violence. Our aim is a Berlin free from anti-Semitism, racism and every form of violence.”
The Left earned backing from an anti-Semitism researcher from the Technical University of Berlin on Tuesday.
Expert Stefanie Schüler-Springorum, director of the Centre for Research on Anti-Semitism, told dpa that the debate has become “overblown.”
“The fact that the focus is currently on the Left has a great deal to do with the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 and the subsequent Gaza war,” the historian said.
Schüler-Springorum noted that the party has repeatedly spoken out against anti-Semitism, both at state and federal level.
She also described Eralp’s five-point plan as “compelling.”
“I see this as an overblown debate, which is clearly also intended to influence the formation of a government in Berlin,” she said. “In my view, however, it is dangerous to exploit the issue of anti-Semitism in this way.”
The Left on Tuesday said it had invited representatives of the Greens and the SPD to hold preliminary talks on forming a government.
It did not give a date for a potential meeting, but said talks could begin as early as next week, following a party conference on Friday.