Germany, of all places, has been unable to prepare properly to commemorate the deadliest assault on Jews since the Holocaust due to fears of pro-Palestine protests.
As such, the Bundestag will not be holding a one-minute silence to mark the Hamas-led pogrom of October 7th. As we reported earlier today, lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on the appropriate procedure and believed that members of the Die Linke (The Left) party would interrupt silent remembrance.
Outside the parliament, however, authorities have given the go-ahead to a rally which will glorify the massacre of around 1,200 Israelis.
Journalist Felix Perrefort said this made Berlin “a disgrace in Europe.” Commentator Heimo Lepuschitz also described the march as a “death celebration disguised as a demonstration,” adding that this was “nothing but contemptible.”
Similar demonstrations will take place across Europe—including in the UK, despite the prime minister’s description of them as “un-British.”
Officials in Bologna, Italy, have, however, banned a pro-Palestine rally on October 7th, citing security concerns.
The silence—or, rather, the lack thereof—in the Bundestag is indicative of the way the West looked away from the October 7th attack two years ago, choosing to target Israel rather than Hamas, as is the focus of a new short film by MCC Brussels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said ahead of pro-Palestine marches on the anniversary of October 7th that “irrelevant” Europe has “caved in” to terrorism.
Attacks are unfortunately expected in Germany and elsewhere across Europe today, with Friedrich Merz warning on Tuesday that the country is “experiencing a new wave of antisemitism.”
Welt Deputy Editor Ulf Poschardt also suggested in today’s paper that “antisemitism is as toxic and threatening now as it has not been since 1945.”
