Germany a 'police state' for Palestine activism
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Hebh Jamal writes that Germany is becoming an extension of the Israeli occupation, utilizing similar propaganda and psychological warfare methods to prevent solidarity with Palestinians.
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Policemen stand in front of a house in Berlin's Friedrichshain district, as a raid was underway on November 23, 2023 (AFP)
According to Hebh Jamal from ScheerPost, the German government is taking extreme steps to crack down on pro-Palestine sentiment, including detaining activists in their homes in the middle of the night.
Jamal details how pro-Palestinian activists Said and Yasemin had German police burst into their homes in the middle of the night in recent weeks, searching their belongings and seizing their electronic devices.
In a series of social media posts, Said stated that this was the third time the police had visited him, citing he had done nothing ilegal to be targeted. "I am not okay," he wrote. “Why is the German government trying everything possible to criminalize me? I have done nothing wrong. I make the German government and the media responsible for everything that might happen to me!”
Yasemin informed Scheerpost that she was targeted because of a social media video she posted about the action against Israeli diplomat and ambassador to Germany Ron Proser.
"We are not only attacked and arrested, but prematurely handpicked from a crowd while attending lawful protest gatherings," explaining that she once had her fingerprints taken along with mugshots before being imprisoned.
German police earlier detained a middle-aged woman early this month after she posted "From the river to the sea Palestine will be free" on social media.
Jamal believes that Germany is becoming an extension of the Israeli occupation, utilizing similar propaganda and psychological warfare methods to prevent solidarity with Palestinians.
Read more: Rights lawyers pushing to stop German arms deliveries to 'Israel'
Hundreds of Palestinians have been detained by the Israeli occupation due to social media activity in support of Gaza.
The German state and media attempted to shut down the Palestine Congress, a meeting of foreign scholars, activists, and journalists including historian Salman Abu Sitta and journalist Ali Abunimah.
Violations of free speech under guise of antisemitism
Senator for the Interior Iris Spranger indicated that the authorities are watching the scheduled Palestine Conference, while Dirk Stettner, leader of the CDU fraction, urges that everything be done to prevent the supposed "antsemitic event."
One organizer told Jamal that it was a violation of free speech, since no effort had been made to engage with the content of the conference before labeling it as such.
"German politicians have no interested in actually protecting Jewish life in Germany but would rather intimidate, threaten, and financially restrict the organizers to protect their own genocidal ideology.”
Judische Stimme, an anti-Zionist Jewish group, has been targeted as well with state-run bank Berlin Sparkasse banning its account and preventing access to cash donated through GoFundMe for the Congress. The organization feels that the bank's request for updated names and addresses is related to their solidarity efforts.
Jamal speculates that anti-Zionist Jews threaten Germany the same way Palestinians do, forcing the country to confront historical atrocity as well as their current support for genocide and apartheid.
She notes that many fear protesting and Muslims and mosques have ceased publicizing demonstrations. Others are cautious about posting on social media. The psychological impact of Germany's assault on Palestinians is effective and the media is supportive of the measures.
Many people in Germany must weigh several risks when deciding whether to join a rally or make a social media post since they understand that attempting to halt a genocide is equal to defying the German state.
Yasemin and Said have expressed they refuse to remain silent despite the crackdown.
"I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing I’m not doing anything about this, even if it’s just attending a protest," Yasemin stated.
Germany's citizenship test to include questions about 'Israel'
Germany will amend its citizenship test to include questions regarding the Holocaust and "Israel," German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced late last month.
Faeser told Der Spiegel that it was Germany's "crime against humanity- the Holocaust" which gives the country a "special responsibility to protect Jews and the state of Israel."
She further added that anyone wishing to become a German citizen must understand "what it means and accept Germany's responsibility," as that responsibility is part of the German identity.
Citizenship candidates will be required to know the name of the Jewish place of worship, what year "Israel" was created, the extent of Germany's commitment to "Israel," and how Holocaust denial is punishable in Germany, she stated.
Germany's commitment to the occupation goes so far that 30% of "Israel's" arms acquisitions in 2023 came from US corporations, 30% came from Germany, and 0.9% from Italy, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) annual study issued in March.
