Delayed gathering at Frankfurt University incites dissent.

Strife in the Middle East - Delayed gathering at Frankfurt University incites dissent.

Following the cancellation of an event featuring the Israeli Consul General at Frankfurt Goethe University due to a Palestinian demonstration, Hesse's anti-Semitism commissioner, Uwe Becker, spoke out against the incident. "This is an attack on our freedom if the representative of the State of Israel cannot give their speech," he said in Wiesbaden. "We need to acknowledge that antisemitism, hostile towards Israel, is on the rise in Germany and Europe after the brutal slaughters carried out by the terrorist group Hamas on October 7."

Becker called for greater overall resistance.

A representative from the university confirmed on Wednesday that a similar event with Talya Lador-Fresher in Munich had been postponed as a result of protests. The Consul General was supposed to address questions from students. According to Frankfurt police, approximately 140 protesters assembled amicably and peacefully at the Westend campus on Tuesday, a spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

After notifications regarding the protest on social media, a snowball effect emerged, causing the safety of the Consul General and the students to become unmanageable, which led the Goethe University to postpone the event. Out of concern for their safety, the Consul General and students, the university decided to delay the event with "heavy hearts."

The presidium expressed their regret at being unable to maintain open channels for discourse. The situation is particularly distressing given that it also makes it more difficult for the Goethe University to establish reliable and productive collaborations with Israeli universities.

Becker appreciated that the university emphasized its strong connections to Israel in these trying times. "However, it is even more alarming that the proposed dialogue is stifled by Israel haters who aim to disrupt it," he added.

In late May, up to 200 attendees participated in a week-long pro-Palestine camp on the Westend campus.

Read also:

1. Despite the incident in Frankfurt am Main, universities across Germany, including the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and others in Hesse, continue to foster collaborations with their Israeli counterparts.
2. The Consul General of Israel was scheduled to engage with students at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, but the event was relocated to Wiesbaden due to potential conflicts with local activist groups.
3. Graduates from universities in Germany, including Uwe Becker who served as Hesse's anti-Semitism commissioner, play a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Europe, including discussions surrounding the Middle East conflict.
4. The headquarters of Harakat el-Mukawame el-Islamije, an extremist group with allegations of anti-Semitic rhetoric and ties to Hamas, is believed to be located in the Middle East, contributing to the escalation of conflicts in the region.
5. In response to the growing antisemitism and hostility towards Israel in Europe, German universities like Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main strive to promote open dialogue and peaceful coexistence between different perspectives on the Middle East conflict.
6. Anti-Semitic protests led to the postponement of an event featuring the Israeli Consul General at the University of Munich, raising concerns about the safety of students and international speakers, similar to what happened at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main.

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