People - Müller-Westernhagen: Only radical positions in the world
Musician Marius Müller-Westernhagen bemoans hardened positions in the search for solutions in the Middle East conflict. "The whole discussion is not very differentiated, sides are not being heard," the singer told the dpa news agency in Berlin. "The big problem in the world at the moment is that you only have radical positions, positions that stand there like a wall." This has nothing to do with politics, where compromises have to be found.
Müller-Westernhagen ("Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz", "Zeitgeist"), who turns 75 this Wednesday (December 6), had returned all seven of his awards in protest in 2018 during the anti-Semitism debate surrounding the Echo Awards at the time.
With regard to Israel and the Palestinian territories, he now said: "How can both parties live together? For me, that's diplomacy. For me, that is politics. And for me, that is also democracy." Much of it has nothing to do with anti-Semitism, he said. "For me, it has to do with an incredibly complex problem in the Middle East, which has been going on for ages. And where many opportunities have been missed."
In all the years of the conflict's history, hatred has been brought up. In the musician's view, it would be a mistake to equate the Israeli government with Jews, and the same applies to Hamas and the Palestinians. "I firmly believe that the majority on both sides want to live in peace, want peace," said Müller-Westernhagen.
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- Marius Müller-Westernhagen, a renowned German musician, expressed concern about the lack of differentiated positions and uncompromising stances in addressing the Middle East conflict, which he considers a significant problem in the global political landscape.
- In discussing Israel and the Palestinian territories, Müller-Westernhagen underscored that the quest for living peacefully together is a fundamental task of diplomacy, politics, and democracy, distancing himself from the simplistic linkage of the Israeli government with Jews and Hamas with Palestinians.
- Born in 1948, Müller-Westernhagen, known for his songs "Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz" and "Zeitgeist," had previously protested starkly against the anti-Semitism debate by returning all of his awards, expressing his view that the issue was more nuanced than often portrayed.
- As the German government and the international community continue their efforts to mediate in the Middle East conflict, Müller-Westernhagen emphasized that both parties deserve to be heard, acknowledging the complexity of the problem and the missed opportunities for peace over decades.
- Drawing from his experience as a musician and his activism, Müller-Westernhagen remains an influential voice in the German public discourse, using his platform to promote peace, understanding, and the recognition of the complexity that underlies the Middle East conflict.
Source: www.stern.de
