Greens demonstrate unity in stance on Gaza war
The Greens are standing by Israel in the fight against the Islamist Hamas and emphasize the Israeli state's right to self-defense. The people of Israel will never be able to live in safety "if this terror is not combated", said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The party conference in Karlsruhe on Friday night unanimously passed a motion by the federal executive entitled "Solidarity with Israel: for peace, against hatred and terror".
Israel is fighting against Hamas and not against the Palestinians and has the right and duty to defend its citizens within the framework of international humanitarian law, said Baerbock, who campaigned for the motion. The violence of Jewish settlers in the West Bank, on the other hand, was not in Israel's security interests. Party chairwoman Ricarda Lang called on the delegates to also name anti-Semitism "where it hurts", i.e. not only in right-wing extremism, but also, for example, "in our own left-wing circle of friends".
The Palestinian civilian population is suffering as a result of Israel's war against Hamas, according to the motion that was passed. Thousands of civilians, "including many children, are dying as a result of the war". This is "also part of the cynical calculation of the terrorists", as Hamas abuses the population as human shields and hides weapons and fighters in and under civilian infrastructure. They are campaigning for the release of all hostages abducted by Hamas as well as for ceasefires and safe corridors so that aid supplies can reach people in need. The "rocket terror of Hamas and other extremist groups" must be stopped immediately.
The text of the motion continues: "After the end of the conflict, we advocate an end to the policy of sealing off the Gaza Strip while safeguarding Israeli security interests. We call for coordinated reconstruction aid for the Gaza Strip, in which the EU should also participate. We call for an active role for the United Nations in efforts to create and secure peace in the region."
The issue of anti-Semitism
The Greens are concerned about "a worrying upswing" in anti-Semitic incitement and violence. "This anti-Semitism runs through all parts of our society and is not primarily a problem of the immigration society."
There were originally 28 amendments to the Federal Executive Board's motion. After extensive negotiations between the proposers and the party executive board, only one remained - the executive board revised the submitted text in return. The remaining amendment, which the delegates rejected by a large majority, called for the deployment of UN peacekeeping troops to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank "in order to permanently prevent further terrorist actions in close cooperation with the Palestinian security authorities".
Delegate Zohra Mohjadeddi from Hamburg, who campaigned for changes to the motion later passed by the Federal Executive Committee, called on the party conference not to forget the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip. "Gaza is a single death zone where entire families are being wiped out by air strikes," she said. Like French President Emmanuel Macron, the Greens should ask themselves whether Israel's military objective justifies the high death toll among the civilian population. "We think not," she said. Mohjadeddi thanked Baerbock for her commitment to a two-state solution. International humanitarian law must be respected by all warring parties in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Unlike in other debates, no speakers were drawn by lot for this item on the agenda. It was important that there was a "sign of solidarity with Israel, also a clear sign on the subject of anti-Semitism", explained the political director of the Greens, Emily Büning. However, it was also heard that the leadership did not want to take the risk of unpredictable speeches.
New election of the federal board
This Friday's Green Party conference will include the re-election of the six-member Federal Executive Committee. The re-election of the two party leaders Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour is considered certain. In addition, the more than 800 delegates should begin the elections for the places on the list for the European elections. Terry Reintke, leader of the Green Group in the EU Parliament, is running for first place.
An open letter was distributed in the exhibition hall in Karlsruhe, appealing to delegates to vote for China expert Janka Oertel as a promising candidate for the European elections. The signatories included the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, and the Head of the Security Policy Research Group at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Claudia Major.
The Green Parties across Europe have expressed solidarity with the Greens in Germany, commending their stance on the Gaza conflict and their commitment to combating anti-Semitism. This was evident in the green parties' statements at the recent international green party conference.
Despite their support for Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas, some Green members are concerned about the impact of the conflict on the Palestinian civilian population and have called for an end to the policy of sealing off the Gaza Strip once the conflict ends, while safeguarding Israeli security interests.
Source: www.dpa.com
