CONFLICTSGERMANY
Berlin police break up banned pro-Palestinian rally
2 hours ago2 hours ago
Berlin police broke up a demonstration of roughly 1,000 people that had been outlawed by city authorities at short notice. Several other such demonstrations, some permitted, others not, took place around the country.
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A man yells as pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest while police keep an eye on them in Berlin
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin defying a ban on assemblyImage: Christian Mang/Reuters
German police and courts responded in different manners to a series of protests and demonstrations showing solidarity with Palestinians over the weekend, with some forbidden and others allowed to go ahead.
In Berlin, police on Sunday evening appealed online to people not to come to a planned “vigil” for people in Gaza at Potsdamer Platz in the city center, saying it had been prohibitied “because in this case it is a replacement-event for an already banned demonstration.”
In a later update, police explained more on their reasoning for the restrictions.
“More and more participants with flags and pro-Palestinian symbols were flocking to the gathering, originally planned as a vigil, which the organizer had said was neither desired nor planned when in prior collaborative talks,” Berlin police wrote on social media. “As a result of the considerable number of people with pro-Palestinian symbols arriving, the replacement event was forbidden even before it had formally begun.”
“People were asked by our officers to leave. After they at first refused to leave the area, the situation has since calmed.”
A police spokesman told the AFP news agency that roughly 1,000 people had come. Images from the scene appeared to show at least isolated incidents of police using force.
On Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2023, approximately 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin despite a ban on such assemblies. The police attempted to disperse the crowd, urging participants to leave. In the foreground of the shot a group of officers can be seen restraining at least two individuals. On Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2023, approximately 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin despite a ban on such assemblies. The police attempted to disperse the crowd, urging participants to leave. In the foreground of the shot a group of officers can be seen restraining at least two individuals.
Police said the demonstration, designed to replace one that had been forbidden, was itself outlawed after officers reported participants approaching with flags and banners the organizers had said were not desired at the ‘vigil’Image: Michael Kuenne/PRESSCOV/ZUMA/picture alliance
After spontaneous scenes of celebration broke out among some Palestinians in the Berlin district of Neukölln in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel last Saturday, Berlin authorities had banned any further gatherings out of fear of further expression of extremist sentiment.
People at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin ahead of a planned pro-Palestinian protest which was later broken up by police. In the center of the shot a young man holds a cardboard sign with the English message “Bombing kids is never self-defense.” October 16, 2023.People at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin ahead of a planned pro-Palestinian protest which was later broken up by police. In the center of the shot a young man holds a cardboard sign with the English message “Bombing kids is never self-defense.” October 16, 2023.
Demonstrator had started gathering nearly Potsdamer Platz in the city center early, before police intervenedImage: Michael Kuenne/PRESSCOV/ZUMA/picture alliance
Demos also banned in Frankfurt, but allowed in Cologne and Düsseldorf
In Frankfurt, after a pro-Palestinian demonstration was prohibited on Saturday by local courts, participants who did turn up were ordered to leave the city’s central Opernplatz by police.
In Cologne, a regional court overturned a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration after a last-minute appeal by the organizer, a member of a Palestinian community group in the city. Police had initially argued that it would be taking place too close to a pro-Israel demonstration on the city’s central Heumarkt square, thus presenting an increased security risk, an argument the court didn’t accept.
In the end, around 250 people attended the pro-Palestinian demonstration, while around 350 people attended the pro-Israel gathering on the other side of the square, according to the local Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper. Local police chief Falk Schnabel called on all demonstrators to be considerate, and no issues were reported.
In nearby Düsseldorf, a demonstration with the title “Free Palestine” was officially declared for 50 participants on Saturday afternoon. According to local police, around 700 people turned up, but no incidents were reported.
Politicians try to stress sensitivity of issue in post-war Germany
Although the issue of demonstrations in support of Palestinians has been highly visible in many European countries since Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel and its response, the issue has been particularly sensitive in Germany and met with a relatively hard line by politicians of all stripes.
Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck tried to describe these issues at some length in a speech released online late on Friday that gathered traction over the weekend.
Habeck’s personal video message, addressed at first to Israelis, promised them “we stand at your side, and we have forgotten nothing,” an apparent reference to Germany’s role in the Holocaust and its post-war guarantee of Israel’s security.
Habeck went on to explain how on his first trip to Israel after joining the government, he had seen a striking painting, asked what it was, and was told it depicted Nazi soldiers making people dig their own mass grave at Babi Yar in what’s now Ukraine. Habeck said that he soon after would visit Babi Yar itself, amid renewed fighting in Ukraine.
“These acts, these places, they are the reason we have a historic responsibility, the obligation imposed by our history, to protect Jewish life — in our own country and around the world,” he said.
But Habeck went on to effectively appeal to people in Germany to keep this in mind if planning to show their support for the Palestinian cause in public.
“But it is disgusting that in this country, in Berlin and elsewhere, on the streets and online, there are people celebrating terror, rejoicing in the murder of Jews,” he said. “More than that, I find it shameful. And we must be totally clear here: there is no place for antisemitism on German streets.”
Interior minister warns that Hamas support liable to lead to expulsion
Since the Hamas attacks last weekend, many Jews in Germany have reported feeling concerned for their safety, and police protection of Jewish institutions has been increased.
“It is horrible that many families are so worried,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, assuring the country’s Jewish community of additional protection. “The message is more important than ever: we stand firmly by your side! We will do everything to protect you.”
She added that the government would “use all legal means to deport Hamas supporters.”
The conservative opposition have expressed support for the government position, Alexander Dobrindt of Bavaria’s Christian Democrats (CSU) demanding “a rock-hard crackdown on hatred of Jews and Israel” and said that an acknowledgement of Israel’s right to exist should be a pre-requisite for asylum status in Germany.
mf, msh/lo (dpa, AP, AFP)
