Poseck wants penalties for deniers of Israel's right to exist
Following the massacre by Islamist Hamas in Israel, Hesse's Minister of Justice would take even tougher action against deniers of the Jewish state's right to exist than the conference of his counterparts initially did. This was announced by Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) to the German Press Agency. Before the conference of justice ministers on November 10, he had called for a corresponding new criminal provision in view of the attacks by the Palestinian Hamas on Israel on October 7, which left around 1200 dead. According to Poseck, statements about the attacks on Israel could already be punishable in Germany as incitement to hatred, approval of criminal acts or public incitement to commit criminal acts. The denial of Israel's right to exist, on the other hand, is not a punishable offense.
In Berlin, the Conference of Justice Ministers stated that criminal law must take sufficient account of the threats to public peace that could arise from the denial of Israel's right to exist. Should gaps in criminal liability become apparent in investigations and criminal proceedings, the heads of the federal and state governments want to develop proposals for solutions "as quickly as possible".
Poseck welcomed the resolution of the Conference of Justice Ministers on the Jewish state as a "clear signal of solidarity with Israel and the unconditional protection of Jewish life in Germany". Nevertheless, he would have liked to see "even more decisive action", "namely legislative action now" - for example in dealing with the slogan "From the river to the sea". These words are often used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
They are intended to express that the aim is the complete liberation of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea - which would also include the territory of Israel. This slogan is already to be prosecuted in Bavaria and Saarland. According to the Ministry of Justice, this approach is also being "fundamentally pursued" in Hesse.
According to Hesse's Minister of Justice Poseck, if a new criminal provision were to be introduced in this context, it would "also cover other statements that fundamentally question Israel's right to exist". On the other hand, there are currently different criminal law assessments of the slogan "From the river to the sea". "A criminal law would provide clarity and a uniform national assessment at this point," said Poseck.
Israel is taking massive military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of civilians have also been killed in the process.
- The escalating conflicts and extremism in the Middle East have led to calls for tougher internal security measures, particularly in relation to the denial of Israel's right to exist.
- The denial of Israel's right to exist is a contentious issue that has sparked debates about justice and criminal liability in various parts of Europe, such as Germany.
- The Middle East is currently witnessing a surge of war and violence, with Israel under attack from groups like Hamas, leading to calls for international action to promote peace and justice in the region.
Source: www.dpa.com
