Hands off from the freedom of expression in Munich!
We, citizens from Munich and the surrounding area, would like to be free to discuss also the implications of the Israeli occupation and settlement policy for the Palestinians. The majority of the Social Democrat Party and the Christian Democratic Party in Munich’s City Council wants to limit this right in urban institutions as if dealing with the matter is an act of an anti-Semitic attitude. The right to express our views is protected by the German Basic Laws. We condemn racism, Nazi terrorism, and Islamophobia. We fully affirm the right of existence of the State of Israel, but we support the Palestinian right for political self-determination, too.
All international efforts to solve the Middle East conflict have failed. This is why more than ten years ago on the intervention of Palestinian peace groups, a civil society movement has emerged around the world which has been trying to get the Israeli government moving politically. Boycott is used internationally by many states as nonviolent means of pressure against Russia, Iran, or Cuba or earlier against South Africa. However, those who – like the Munich "Jewish-Palestinian Dialogue Group" that favors a temporary boycott until the end of the occupation – is defamatory registered in the Munich City Council. This insinuation is untenable, since this group has been striving since 1985 for a peaceful and equation of Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East. A lecture like "50 years of Israeli occupation" held by the Israeli journalist Gideon Levy (Haaretz) in May 2017 would not be possible anymore in case the City Council’s initiative is approved. Even the South African Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu would not be able to speak. Democracy lives from controversial discussions.
Shimon Stein, Israel’s former ambassador of Israel to Berlin, recently aptly noted: "Who calls anti-Semitism where no one is, harms the fight against anti-Semitism. "
We are very concerned about the freedom of information in our city. Therefore, we appeal to the SPD and CSU councilors: Pull your application back!
First signatures:
Dr. Peter Barth, Political Scientist - Dr. Reiner Bernstein, Historian - Gaby dos Santos, Cultural Manager - Lisa Fitz, Cabaret Artist - Josef Hanneschläger, Actor - Gisela Heidenreich, Family Therapist and Author - Almut Hielscher, Journalist - Henning Hintze, Journalist - Uta König, Journalist and Movie Producer - Ecco Meineke, Musician and Cabaret Artist - Brigitte Obermayer, International Women's League for Peace and Freedom - Anatol Regnier, Musician and Writer - Clemens Ronnefeldt, Member of the International Reconciliation Union - Dr. Peter Scholze, Physician - Dr. Tilman Spengler, Author - Dr. Johano Strasser, Writer - Stefanie Sycholt, Movie Director and Author - Dr. Gerd Tersteegen, Attorney - Michael Teutsch, Movie Producer - Martin Urban, Science Publicist - Dr. Clemens Verenkotte, Radio Editor and former Correspondent in Israel - Hans Well, Musician and Cabaret Artist.
Hands off from the freedom of expression in Munich!
We, citizens from Munich and the surrounding area, would like to be free to discuss also the implications of the Israeli occupation and settlement policy for the Palestinians. The majority of the Social Democrat Party and the Christian Democratic Party in Munich’s City Council wants to limit this right in urban institutions as if dealing with the matter is an act of an anti-Semitic attitude. The right to express our views is protected by the German Basic Laws. We condemn racism, Nazi terrorism, and Islamophobia. We fully affirm the right of existence of the State of Israel, but we support the Palestinian right for political self-determination, too.
All international efforts to solve the Middle East conflict have failed. This is why more than ten years ago on the intervention of Palestinian peace groups, a civil society movement has emerged around the world which has been trying to get the Israeli government moving politically. Boycott is used internationally by many states as nonviolent means of pressure against Russia, Iran, or Cuba or earlier against South Africa. However, those who – like the Munich "Jewish-Palestinian Dialogue Group" that favors a temporary boycott until the end of the occupation – is defamatory registered in the Munich City Council. This insinuation is untenable, since this group has been striving since 1985 for a peaceful and equation of Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East. A lecture like "50 years of Israeli occupation" held by the Israeli journalist Gideon Levy (Haaretz) in May 2017 would not be possible anymore in case the City Council’s initiative is approved. Even the South African Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu would not be able to speak. Democracy lives from controversial discussions.
Shimon Stein, Israel’s former ambassador of Israel to Berlin, recently aptly noted: "Who calls anti-Semitism where no one is, harms the fight against anti-Semitism. "
We are very concerned about the freedom of information in our city. Therefore, we appeal to the SPD and CSU councilors: Pull your application back!
First signatures:
Dr. Peter Barth, Political Scientist - Dr. Reiner Bernstein, Historian - Gaby dos Santos, Cultural Manager - Lisa Fitz, Cabaret Artist - Josef Hanneschläger, Actor - Gisela Heidenreich, Family Therapist and Author - Almut Hielscher, Journalist - Henning Hintze, Journalist - Uta König, Journalist and Movie Producer - Ecco Meineke, Musician and Cabaret Artist - Brigitte Obermayer, International Women's League for Peace and Freedom - Anatol Regnier, Musician and Writer - Clemens Ronnefeldt, Member of the International Reconciliation Union - Dr. Peter Scholze, Physician - Dr. Tilman Spengler, Author - Dr. Johano Strasser, Writer - Stefanie Sycholt, Movie Director and Author - Dr. Gerd Tersteegen, Attorney - Michael Teutsch, Movie Producer - Martin Urban, Science Publicist - Dr. Clemens Verenkotte, Radio Editor and former Correspondent in Israel - Hans Well, Musician and Cabaret Artist.