The University President expresses regret for his actions on social media.
The head of the Technical University of Berlin, Geraldine Rauch, has issued a public apology after she was discovered to have liked content with alleged anti-Semitic connotations on social media regarding the Gaza conflict. In a written statement, Rauch stated her intention to disassociate herself from any anti-Semitic content or its creators. "I've clicked the 'like' button on some tweets about the situation in Gaza and Rafah, but they contain anti-Semitic elements or associations," she said.
Rauch conceded that she had inadvertently 'liked' a specific tweet, failing to notice the accompanying image's offensive nature. "I want to make it clear that I wouldn't have liked the tweet if I'd known it contained anti-Semitic language or was associated with the author's account – this was a mistake, and I offer a sincere apology," said Rauch.
When the "Jewish Daily" newspaper reported that Rauch had 'liked' various provocative posts on the platform, Berlin's Science Minister Ina Czyborra expressed her hope that Rauch would address the situation publicly.
Analyzing the reports from the "Jewish Daily," it emerged that Rauch had endorsed a photograph depicting protesters bearing a swastika with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's face superimposed on it. The tweets she 'liked' also contained accusations of genocide and accusations of war crimes against Israel.
The account linked to Rauch has since been removed. Her ability to trace the tweets she'd 'liked' was initially hindered. The "Jewish Daily" relied on screenshots of the offending tweets provided by social media users.
Criticized further by the university's presidium for her errors, Rauch's likes were deemed "unacceptable." A joint statement from the presidium indicated that the Tech University of Berlin has a history of hatred and glorification of war, along with anti-Semitism during WWII. This distressing chapter should serve as a perpetual reminder.
Science and Research Senator Ina Czyborra underscored, "Berlin's universities must always be distanced from violence and anti-Semitism, believing in academic principles and democratic values." Rauch should therefore own up to her oversight in a public setting, Czyborra added.
The Anti-Semitism Commissioner of the Federal Government, Felix Klein, understood why Jewish students and others appalled by anti-Semitism felt offended given Rauch's actions. "It's disturbing for Jewish students and those who don't want anti-Semitism on campus to see a university president clicking 'like' on such statements, which parallel Nazi-era anti-Semitism," Klein shared with the "Bild" newspaper.
The Technical University of Berlin is currently facing criticism over the appointment of its Anti-Semitism Commissioner, Uffa Jensen. The Central Council of Jews branded Jensen's appointment "a disappointment" and charged him with criticizing the anti-Semitism definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). In response, Jensen stated that he had critically approved the definition, just like many of his Jewish peers.
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- The Central Council of Jews in Germany expressed their disappointment with the appointment of Uffa Jensen as the Anti-Semitism Commissioner at the Technical University of Berlin, accusing him of criticizing the anti-Semitism definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
- The Gaza Strip has been a subject of controversy and allegations of war crimes, with some social media platforms, including the now-removed account linked to the University President, Geraldine Rauch, being used to spread accusations of genocide against Israel.
- In response to the criticism of her actions on social media during the Gaza conflict, the President of the Technical University of Berlin, Geraldine Rauch, issued a public apology and stated her intention to disassociate herself from any anti-Semitic content.
- The Berlin's Science Minister, Ina Czyborra, called on Rauch to address the situation publicly, highlighting the importance of distancing Berlin's universities from violence and anti-Semitism in light of the university's history of hatred and glorification of war during World War II.
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