‘Germany’s far right still hates Jews. They just hate Muslims more’

Nov 20, 2025

Guest

Nadav Lapid

Ayman Odeh, leader of the Hadash faction, passionately calls for Germany to recognize Palestinian statehood while addressing democracy and minority rights. Maya Soiref highlights the challenges faced by progressive organizations and the strain in German-Israeli relations post-Gaza war. Filmmaker Nadav Lapid advocates for cultural boycotts, critiquing the Israeli response to the conflict and emphasizing artists' responsibilities. Together, they explore the complexities of solidarity, political agendas, and the urgent need for honest dialogue.

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INSIGHT

Alienating Partners Undermines Security

John Philipp Albrecht warned that alienating democratic partners weakens Israel's security and isolates its supporters.
He urged Germany and Europe to keep dialogue open and protect civil-society ties despite political pressure.

ADVICE

Recognize Palestine To Advance Peace

Ayman Odeh urged Germany to recognize a Palestinian state and affirm two peoples' rights to self-determination.
He framed recognition as a necessary step toward equality-based peace and long-term security.

ADVICE

Pair Solidarity With International Law

Dr. Ofra Waldman said Germany must balance solidarity with Israel and commitment to international law simultaneously.
She advised against framing support for Israel as incompatible with enforcing humanitarian law.

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Haaretz held its first-ever conference in Berlin, “Fault Lines and Futures: Israel, Gaza and Germany in Wartime and After," to explore the dynamic between Israelis, Palestinians and Germans at this charged moment; this special edition of the Haaretz Podcast features highlights of those conversations.

Among the conference speakers was Hadash MK Ayman Odeh, who called on German politicians to follow other European leaders in recognizing a Palestinian state and acknowledge that “there are two peoples in our shared homeland, both with the right to self-determination.”

John Philipp Albrecht, president of the Heinrich Boell Foundation – a co-sponsor of the Haaretz conference – took the stage to denounce the attempts of the Netanyahu government's “attacks and intimidation” against European NGOs that promote democracy and Israeli-Palestinian coexistence, noting that “alienating friends and partners of Israel is a strange strategy to strengthen Israel's security.”

Also speaking was Prof. Meron Mendel, director of the Anne Frank Center in Frankfurt, who warned against the way in which German and other European far-right anti-immigration parties misleadingly present themselves as defenders of Israel and opponents of antisemitism, as they enjoy the embrace of Israel’s current right-wing coalition.

These extremist politicians do not “love Jews,” said Mendel. “They hate Jews, but they hate Muslims more.” So they say, “we are for Israel” to “justify discriminating against Muslims for a ‘good cause’ – the cause of fighting antisemitism.”

This episode also features Berliner festival director Matthias Pees and Dr. Ofer Waldman, who heads the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s Tel Aviv office. Watch a recording of the full conference here.

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