TU President Issues Apology Over Anti-Semitic Likes

Educational Institution - TU President Issues Apology Over Anti-Semitic Likes

The head of Berlin's Technical University, Geraldine Rauch, has confessed to making errors in liking contentious posts concerning the conflict in Gaza. "I hit the 'like' button on certain tweets that tackled the situation in Gaza and Rafah, but which harbored anti-Semitic contexts or origins," stated the academic in a public announcement. She takes the allegations against her very seriously and aims to cut ties with any anti-Semitic content or authors of the tweets. Partaking in similar actions if the TU is targeted, as at the Humboldt University in Berlin, is also part of her promise.

Berlin's Ministry of Science and Research representative, Ina Czyborra, had earlier called on Rauch for a public response. "Berlin's universities must always maintain their distance from any form of violence and anti-Semitism while promoting democratic values," stated the SPD politician.

The focus of a photo depicting Netanyahu with a swastika

Rauch's assertion highlights a post showing protesters holding a snapshot of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu painted with a swastika. The post author notes that the protesters in the images are Turkish and are demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip alongside denouncing the operation in Rafah. "The desire for a ceasefire was my main concern," explained Rauch.

She had liked the post due to its text and didn't pay much attention to the photo initially. Rauch conveys her sincere apologies for this slip-up. "I'd like to make it perfectly clear that I would not have liked the tweet had I actively noticed the anti-Semitic images or come into contact with the author's account." Marking comments on X with "Liked" containing allusions to the war in Gaza as a genocide or Israel as a war criminal is also among Rauch's actions. The Jewish Daily initially reported the situation. Rauch's X account with the university president now stands deleted.

Responses from TU officials, the Bildungsstätte Anne Frank, and Felix Klein

Members of the TU board deemed the post "overtly anti-Semitic". "This is unacceptable. We disassociate ourselves from this action and from any anti-Semitism."

The head of the Bildungsstätte Anne Frank center in Frankfurt am Main explains why Rauch's behavior is anti-Semitic. "A post in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is displayed with a swastika trivia-alizes the Holocaust. Rauch should have understood this," said the Bildungsstätte Anne Frank director, Meron Mendel. "Professors at universities should enforce responsible conduct on social media and be mindful of the repercussions of their acts." The Bildungsstätte Anne Frank center in Frankfurt am Main is dedicated to combatting anti-Semitism.

The German Government's Anti-Semitism Commissioner, Felix Klein, acknowledges why Jewish students "and those who won't stand for anti-Semitism on campus" are appalled by Rauch's behavior, as he explained to the "Bild" newspaper. "How can Jewish students have faith in a university president who likes content that propagates anti-Semitism, given that many campuses have become unsafe for Jews?"

The Technical University is facing criticism due to the appointment of the new anti-Semitism commissioner, Uffa Jensen. The Central Council of Jews described the nomination in a press release as "disappointing" and accused the historian of going against the anti-Semitism definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Jensen answered in a statement, "I criticized the definition, as do many of my Jewish peers, on a fundamental level."

For some, the final sentence of the IHRA definition raises doubt, likening criticism of Israeli politics to anti-Semitism. However, the IHRA has reiterated that "comparable criticism of Israel cannot be considered anti-Semitic." Additionally, other anti-Semitism definitions such as the Jerusalem Declaration are criticized for downplaying or even denying anti-Semitism specific to Israel.

Meron Mendel of the Bildungsstätte Anne Frank has little hope in scientists swearing faithfulness to a single anti-Semitism definition. "These words are part of the issue, and this division leads to the formation of camps. As scientists, we must comprehend anti-Semitism comprehensively."

Content from Jewish Chronicle [https://www.thejc.com/news/world/technical-university-president-admits-liking-anti-semitic-tweets-1.533489]

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1. Geraldine Rauch, the TU president, apologized for liking tweets about the Gaza Strip that contained anti-Semitic elements, specifically one depicting Benjamin Netanyahu with a swastika.
2. Ina Czyborra, a representative from Berlin's Ministry of Science and Research, had urged Rauch to publicly address the issue, emphasizing the importance of Berlin's universities maintaining distance from violence and anti-Semitism.
3. The controversial post originally shared by an unknown author, which Rauch had liked, featured Turkish protesters demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip while denouncing the operation in Rafah, but its anti-Semitic context was evident in the swastika image linked to Netanyahu.
4. Holocaust education center director Meron Mendel criticized Rauch's behavior, explaining that displaying Netanyahu with a swastika trivialized the Holocaust and that professors at universities have a responsibility to uphold responsible conduct on social media.
5. Felix Klein, the German Government's Anti-Semitism Commissioner, acknowledged the concerns of Jewish students and those who oppose anti-Semitism on campus, noting that it is challenging for them to have faith in a university president who promotes such content.
6. TU officials also denounced the post as overtly anti-Semitic, distancing themselves from Rauch's actions and any connection to anti-Semitism.
7. Palestinian territories and the Gaza Strip were ongoing topics of discussion and controversy throughout the text, as was the conflict between Israel and protesters, some of whom utilized anti-Semitic imagery like the swastika.
8. Criticism of the TU's appointment of Uffa Jensen as the new anti-Semitism commissioner surfaced, with the Central Council of Jews describing it as "disappointing" and accusing Jensen of going against the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition.
9. Universities, including the TU and other prominent institutions, have been under scrutiny for their handling of anti-Semitic incidents, leading to discussions about the definition and responsibilities of combating anti-Semitism.
10. Meron Mendel, director of the Bildungsstätte Anne Frank center, emphasized the importance of scientists understanding anti-Semitism comprehensively rather than adhering to a single definition, as different perspectives may create divisions and camps.

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