October 7, 2023 marks a turning point in Israeli history. On that day, members of the radical Islamic Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas broke through the barriers around the Gaza Strip and carried out the largest pogrom against Jews since the end of the Holocaust. More than 1,200 people were murdered. In addition, Hamas kidnapped around 240 hostages.
The initial unrestricted solidarity towards Israel, especially from Germany, has been slowly but steadily followed by international criticism of the Israeli army, particularly regarding the civilians killed in Gaza and the expected offensive in Rafah, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have now fled.
To discuss these concerns, politicians, experts, diplomats, and journalists from Israel came together for the Israeli-German conference Joint Perspectives, organized by WELT and The Jerusalem Post in Berlin. Other topics included the role of the media in the war and the rise of anti-Semitism, especially in Western countries, after the October 7 massacre.
The Chairman of the Export Institute, Avi Baleshnikov, praised the organizers of the conference in Berlin and noted the importance of the participation of pioneering Israeli companies in these global events. The search for new markets for Israeli products and the momentum of the news currently are the key to the business and economic success of the Israeli industry. Baleshnikov also noted that the state of Israel must do everything it can, especially on the world stage, to attract new investments of factories to the settlements that have been attacked and to strengthen the periphery. The Deputy Director General of Israel Export Institute, Raz Granot, added:
In times of war and global challenges, innovation and business continuity are not only a goal but a must. As Israelis, we specialize in providing a quick and creative response to changes and without a doubt, our ability to maintain the release of innovative products and services to global markets, even during difficult challenges, is the key to our business continuity.
We see this as not only a struggle but an opportunity to lead and innovate.
At the opening, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) said that Germany was standing by Israel not only because of its historical obligation. He emphasized that he was looking at the conflict from “both sides.” Buschmann went on to say that, on the other hand, Hamas is a murderous terrorist organization that is responsible for many deaths. He emphasized that Israel is fighting in accordance with international law, which the International Court of Justice in The Hague has also confirmed. At the same time, he warned that the “justified war” must one day end.
The events of October 7 triggered not only global solidarity but also a wave of antisemitism. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said 2,300 antisemitic crimes have been registered in Germany since October 7th. Recently, a student at the Free University of Berlin was beaten because he was Jewish. Buschmann confirmed that these crimes will be prosecuted with the utmost severity. He emphasized that antisemites were not welcome in Germany and would definitely not receive German passports.
Gideon Sa’ar, a member of the Jerusalem War Cabinet and minister of the New Hope party, said the threat would only end if Hamas’ military and administrative capabilities were destroyed. He warned of the danger of the Palestinian state becoming a Hamas state and destabilizing the region, like what happened after Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. Sa’ar stressed that a solution could only be achieved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. He rejected the current prospect of a two-state solution. The Minister of State in the Foreign Office Tobias Lindner replied that he understood that there was currently no willingness to talk about a two-state solution in Israel, but in the long term this would mean the greatest security.
Next came a discussion about how to help civilians. Knesset member Sharren Haskel said that the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) cannot be reformed and cannot receive any further funding. She recalled the recently uncovered terrorist headquarters beneath the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, and noted that UN-paid staff were involved in the October 7 massacre. These would not just be individual black sheep in the organization. She argued that other organizations should take over providing humanitarian aid, and that Germany, as one of the largest donors to UNRWA, should withhold its funding.
Responding to her, Christian Buck, head of policy for Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East at the Foreign Office, said that the allegations were being investigated but also that there was currently no alternative. He emphasized that the two million people in Gaza must be taken care of and that no one else can take on this task.
The conference then turned from the political to the personal. The story of Romi, 23, counted among the 134 remaining hostages in Gaza, was deeply affecting. Romi’s mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, related what happened on October 7. Her daughter was abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip from the Nova music festival in Israel. Gonen has been fighting for her daughter’s return for more than 130 days.
Gonen’s courageous testimony was also the most emotional at the conference, as she recounted the last time that she heard her daughter’s voice coming from the car in which Romi was hiding. On the phone, her daughter said, “Mom, I can’t speak—they can hear me. Mom, I’ve been shot, I’m bleeding, I think I’m dying.” Gonen said that this situation reminded her of stories that are read in books about the Holocaust. Gonen then heard the voices of terrorists pulling her daughter out of the car.
For Meirav Leshem Gonen it is vital that her kidnapped daughter Romi returns to Israel as quickly as possible. The Gulf state of Qatar is mediating in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and Egypt and the United States are also involved. She expressly thanked Germany for also taking responsibility.
There was also a novelty. It was the first time a Qatari diplomat took part in a conference co-organized by an Israeli news company. HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al-Thani, the Qatari ambassador to Germany, was interviewed by Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post. Qatar and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, but there has been communication between the two countries due to Doha’s involvement in the hostage rescue.
Qatar’s ambassador to Germany declared his hope that the hostages would be released soon, adding that many people in the embassy were working nonstop to achieve this. The ambassador said he was not communicating directly with Hamas in Gaza, but that he was speaking to the office in Doha that was involved in the negotiations. He noted that communication with Hamas in Gaza was difficult because the Israeli army controls most of the enclave. Mohammed Al-Thani stressed that everyone wants the hostages to be released as quickly as possible: “We all hope for it, we all wish it.”
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani was personally involved in the process and discussions, including meetings with the families of the hostages and CIA Director William Burns in Paris and Egypt. This month, the prime minister also visited Washington, where he met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Qatar has sought to be part of the Middle East’s diplomatic heartbeat by playing the role of mediator and aiming to de-escalate the situation and find a path to peace. When Ambassador Mohammed Al-Thani was asked about the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, which is not known for its balanced and neutral reporting on Israel, he said that he watches different channels to form his own opinion and that Al Jazeera also allows the Israeli side to have its say. At the end, the ambassador stated that Qatar is a peaceful nation and wants peace and prosperity in the region. Promoting peace is a cornerstone of its foreign policy. After his appearance, a plane was waiting for him to take him to the Munich Security Conference.
This was followed by a panel discussion on the topic “Anti-Semitism – Reactions” with speakers including Aaron Sagui, the envoy of the Israeli Embassy in Germany; Amir Gross Kabiri, the president of the MT Abraham Group SA and chairman of the Jewish Community in Mostar; and Josef Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.
When asked whether he would recommend family members live in Berlin for a while, Sagui said he saw no reason to stop them. They must be vigilant but show themselves and not hide. Amir Gross Kabiri said that:
The Jewish people have a strong nation, the State of Israel, which stands as one of the most advanced and developed countries in the world, and make no mistake, we fear no one. Yesterday’s conference on antisemitism reaffirmed my belief in the power of unity and resilience. The Jewish people have always risen above adversity, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and success. This spirit of determination is what propels us forward, ensuring that we not only counteract hatred with positivity but also lead by example, demonstrating the strength of our community and the impact of our actions worldwide.
In the last months, I have felt a lot of hatred, but these experiences only motivate me to strive for excellence in everything my organization does. We aim to show those antisemitic individuals what true success means. Essentially, hatred, intolerance, and prejudice are fueled only by negativity. I strive to stay above it and engage in positive actions with all those partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina who think positively and share a constructive attitude like mine.
I will remain vocal against any acts of antisemitism, defying the expectations of those who believe Jews should remain silent. Our collective voice and actions are powerful tools against prejudice, reinforcing our commitment to justice, tolerance, and peace.
Then Sabina, a German-Israeli singer and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, spoke:
Coming to Berlin has stirred up a lot of emotions, and brings back all my childhood memories growing up as a German Jewish girl of feeling lonely, almost like a stranger in your own land. Being interviewed at the summit, I felt it was necessary to connect the massacre of the 7th of October—in which families were murdered, burned, and taken as hostages—to the times of the Holocaust. Germany must stand and support Israel for its existence. Germany has proved itself as a strong alliance in those difficult times. I feel honored to be an artist ambassador and I hope for a better future.
The closing statement came from publicist Michel Friedman. He pointed out that it is in the interest of all countries to take measures against antisemitism because those who hate Jews also hate people. According to Friedman, it is no coincidence that Israel is the last country in the Middle East to support the values of freedom, because Hezbollah and Hamas’ war against Israel is about more than simple antisemitism.
While the participants discussed inside on the 19th floor, people gathered outside the Axel Springer campus to protest against Israel. The demonstrators chanted in German: “The German media is lying, don’t be fooled! Freedom for Palestine!” There were also shouts of “Zionists are fascists!” and the infamous slogan ‘From the river to the sea,’ in English. One protester said: “It is a Jewish value to stand up for a free Palestine, especially in Germany.” Despite the name of the conference, there may not be many ‘joint perspectives’ with the protestors in the streets outside.
Israeli-German ‘Joint Perspectives’ on Antisemitism
The Israeli-German ‘Common Perspectives’ Summit. Photo by Filip Gaspar.
October 7, 2023 marks a turning point in Israeli history. On that day, members of the radical Islamic Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas broke through the barriers around the Gaza Strip and carried out the largest pogrom against Jews since the end of the Holocaust. More than 1,200 people were murdered. In addition, Hamas kidnapped around 240 hostages.
The initial unrestricted solidarity towards Israel, especially from Germany, has been slowly but steadily followed by international criticism of the Israeli army, particularly regarding the civilians killed in Gaza and the expected offensive in Rafah, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have now fled.
To discuss these concerns, politicians, experts, diplomats, and journalists from Israel came together for the Israeli-German conference Joint Perspectives, organized by WELT and The Jerusalem Post in Berlin. Other topics included the role of the media in the war and the rise of anti-Semitism, especially in Western countries, after the October 7 massacre.
The Chairman of the Export Institute, Avi Baleshnikov, praised the organizers of the conference in Berlin and noted the importance of the participation of pioneering Israeli companies in these global events. The search for new markets for Israeli products and the momentum of the news currently are the key to the business and economic success of the Israeli industry. Baleshnikov also noted that the state of Israel must do everything it can, especially on the world stage, to attract new investments of factories to the settlements that have been attacked and to strengthen the periphery. The Deputy Director General of Israel Export Institute, Raz Granot, added:
At the opening, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) said that Germany was standing by Israel not only because of its historical obligation. He emphasized that he was looking at the conflict from “both sides.” Buschmann went on to say that, on the other hand, Hamas is a murderous terrorist organization that is responsible for many deaths. He emphasized that Israel is fighting in accordance with international law, which the International Court of Justice in The Hague has also confirmed. At the same time, he warned that the “justified war” must one day end.
The events of October 7 triggered not only global solidarity but also a wave of antisemitism. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said 2,300 antisemitic crimes have been registered in Germany since October 7th. Recently, a student at the Free University of Berlin was beaten because he was Jewish. Buschmann confirmed that these crimes will be prosecuted with the utmost severity. He emphasized that antisemites were not welcome in Germany and would definitely not receive German passports.
Gideon Sa’ar, a member of the Jerusalem War Cabinet and minister of the New Hope party, said the threat would only end if Hamas’ military and administrative capabilities were destroyed. He warned of the danger of the Palestinian state becoming a Hamas state and destabilizing the region, like what happened after Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. Sa’ar stressed that a solution could only be achieved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. He rejected the current prospect of a two-state solution. The Minister of State in the Foreign Office Tobias Lindner replied that he understood that there was currently no willingness to talk about a two-state solution in Israel, but in the long term this would mean the greatest security.
Next came a discussion about how to help civilians. Knesset member Sharren Haskel said that the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) cannot be reformed and cannot receive any further funding. She recalled the recently uncovered terrorist headquarters beneath the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, and noted that UN-paid staff were involved in the October 7 massacre. These would not just be individual black sheep in the organization. She argued that other organizations should take over providing humanitarian aid, and that Germany, as one of the largest donors to UNRWA, should withhold its funding.
Responding to her, Christian Buck, head of policy for Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East at the Foreign Office, said that the allegations were being investigated but also that there was currently no alternative. He emphasized that the two million people in Gaza must be taken care of and that no one else can take on this task.
The conference then turned from the political to the personal. The story of Romi, 23, counted among the 134 remaining hostages in Gaza, was deeply affecting. Romi’s mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, related what happened on October 7. Her daughter was abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip from the Nova music festival in Israel. Gonen has been fighting for her daughter’s return for more than 130 days.
Gonen’s courageous testimony was also the most emotional at the conference, as she recounted the last time that she heard her daughter’s voice coming from the car in which Romi was hiding. On the phone, her daughter said, “Mom, I can’t speak—they can hear me. Mom, I’ve been shot, I’m bleeding, I think I’m dying.” Gonen said that this situation reminded her of stories that are read in books about the Holocaust. Gonen then heard the voices of terrorists pulling her daughter out of the car.
For Meirav Leshem Gonen it is vital that her kidnapped daughter Romi returns to Israel as quickly as possible. The Gulf state of Qatar is mediating in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and Egypt and the United States are also involved. She expressly thanked Germany for also taking responsibility.
There was also a novelty. It was the first time a Qatari diplomat took part in a conference co-organized by an Israeli news company. HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al-Thani, the Qatari ambassador to Germany, was interviewed by Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post. Qatar and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, but there has been communication between the two countries due to Doha’s involvement in the hostage rescue.
Qatar’s ambassador to Germany declared his hope that the hostages would be released soon, adding that many people in the embassy were working nonstop to achieve this. The ambassador said he was not communicating directly with Hamas in Gaza, but that he was speaking to the office in Doha that was involved in the negotiations. He noted that communication with Hamas in Gaza was difficult because the Israeli army controls most of the enclave. Mohammed Al-Thani stressed that everyone wants the hostages to be released as quickly as possible: “We all hope for it, we all wish it.”
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani was personally involved in the process and discussions, including meetings with the families of the hostages and CIA Director William Burns in Paris and Egypt. This month, the prime minister also visited Washington, where he met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Qatar has sought to be part of the Middle East’s diplomatic heartbeat by playing the role of mediator and aiming to de-escalate the situation and find a path to peace. When Ambassador Mohammed Al-Thani was asked about the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, which is not known for its balanced and neutral reporting on Israel, he said that he watches different channels to form his own opinion and that Al Jazeera also allows the Israeli side to have its say. At the end, the ambassador stated that Qatar is a peaceful nation and wants peace and prosperity in the region. Promoting peace is a cornerstone of its foreign policy. After his appearance, a plane was waiting for him to take him to the Munich Security Conference.
This was followed by a panel discussion on the topic “Anti-Semitism – Reactions” with speakers including Aaron Sagui, the envoy of the Israeli Embassy in Germany; Amir Gross Kabiri, the president of the MT Abraham Group SA and chairman of the Jewish Community in Mostar; and Josef Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.
When asked whether he would recommend family members live in Berlin for a while, Sagui said he saw no reason to stop them. They must be vigilant but show themselves and not hide. Amir Gross Kabiri said that:
Then Sabina, a German-Israeli singer and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, spoke:
The closing statement came from publicist Michel Friedman. He pointed out that it is in the interest of all countries to take measures against antisemitism because those who hate Jews also hate people. According to Friedman, it is no coincidence that Israel is the last country in the Middle East to support the values of freedom, because Hezbollah and Hamas’ war against Israel is about more than simple antisemitism.
While the participants discussed inside on the 19th floor, people gathered outside the Axel Springer campus to protest against Israel. The demonstrators chanted in German: “The German media is lying, don’t be fooled! Freedom for Palestine!” There were also shouts of “Zionists are fascists!” and the infamous slogan ‘From the river to the sea,’ in English. One protester said: “It is a Jewish value to stand up for a free Palestine, especially in Germany.” Despite the name of the conference, there may not be many ‘joint perspectives’ with the protestors in the streets outside.
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