The debate about anti-Semitism within the left is becoming increasingly widespread. Gregor Gysi recently expressed concern about anti-Semitic currents within the party in the FOCUS “Power People” podcast. Now party members have responded to the long-time member of the Bundestag’s statements with an “incendiary letter”. This is reported by “Spiegel”. The letter makes accusations of racism against Gysi.

What had happened? In an interview with “FOCUS” editor-in-chief Franziska Reich, Gysi answered the following when asked how he deals with anti-Semitic or anti-Israel currents in the party: “It has now become much more dangerous because many more people with a migrant background, including a specific migrant background, have come into our party, which I actually very much welcome,” said Gysi, who himself has Jewish ancestors. However, they bring with them “views of Israel” that are partly “wrong”. At the same time, the 78-year-old expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and spoke out in favor of a two-state solution. He is for a “sovereign, secure Israel and just as much for a sovereign, secure Palestine.”

The non-public letter, which according to “Spiegel” was written by an internal party group called “Migrant Left/Links*Kanax”, states: “Your choice of words, that the situation has become ‘more dangerous’ as a result of this increase, reproduces a racist threat scenario. Such terms reinforce anti-Muslim and anti-Arab resentments and must have no place in an anti-racist party. Furthermore, it is precisely this rhetoric that legitimizes the racist politics of Merz, the AfD & Co. and contributes to the further political and social shift to the right.”

Authors demand apology from Gysi

The authors demand from Gysi, among other things, a public apology and “timely participation by you and your team in anti-racist training.” Although according to “Spiegel” the letter begins with the words “Dear Gregor,” it was apparently not sent to the person concerned. As a spokesman for the politician told FOCUS, the “incendiary letter” did not reach Gysi, so he could not comment on the content.

The group received encouragement from party leader Jan van Aken. “If I understand Gregor correctly, then what he is saying is not correct,” said van Aken to “Spiegel”. He gives the impression that anti-Semitism is primarily “imported”. Anti-Semitism is not just a problem for certain groups of people. “Especially with a view to Germany’s history, I resist the narrative that if ‘they’ didn’t come, ‘we’ wouldn’t have a problem,” says van Aken. Most anti-Semitic crimes are still committed by right-wing extremists.

Anti-Semitism Commissioner leaves the party

However, Gysi is not the only left-wing politician who is concerned about events in his own party. The Brandenburg anti-Semitism commissioner Andreas Büttner recently left the party because of anti-Semitic tendencies. “It’s no longer possible. And I can’t do it anymore,” said Büttner.

The last straw for Büttner was obviously the state party conference of the Lower Saxony Left at the weekend. “The Left Lower Saxony rejects the Zionism that actually exists today,” it says in a resolution. It also contains the controversial allegations that the Israeli government is carrying out “genocide” in the Gaza Strip and that “apartheid” prevails in “Israel and the occupied territories”.

The left-wing politician Bodo Ramelow also reacted sharply to the decision. Anyone who makes the fight against Zionism the center of party conferences and directs the internal party debate against the existence of Israel is abusing the suffering of the Palestinians, the Bundestag Vice President told “Spiegel”. The left must be careful not to become a “sect”. The former Left parliamentary group leader Jan Korte said it even more clearly: “There is a massive anti-Semitism problem on the Left.”

“Cannot remain a member”

Büttner drew his personal conclusion in a statement: “I can no longer remain a member of this party without betraying my own convictions.” In addition to the decision from Lower Saxony, the Brandenburg anti-Semitism commissioner gave other reasons for the break with his party.

This includes the fact that the Left said goodbye to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism that is common in Germany at a federal party conference. Instead, the left’s official standard since then has been the so-called Jerusalem Declaration, which leaves more room for criticism of Israel. From Büttner’s point of view, it relativizes “anti-Semitic narratives in key points”.

“No anti-Semitism problem”

Party leader van Aken said at a press conference that he respected Büttner’s move and “of course very much regrets it.” At the same time, he said that the left was ignoring a problem of anti-Semitism within its own ranks: “I can’t leave it like that.” The party is clearly against anti-Semitism.

The original Zionism application from Lower Saxony has been significantly changed and is not directed against Zionism in general, he added. The term usually describes the movement that began in the 19th century to establish a separate state for Jews in Palestine. According to van Aken, the Lower Saxony comrades were concerned with the “Zionism that actually exists today” of the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The party leader said that the choice of words – including the words “genocide” and “apartheid” – was in line with the decisions of the federal party, which advocates a two-state solution, for Israel’s right to exist and against anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, van Aken admitted: “This decision has a big impact, which is why I don’t think it’s good.”

Party leadership in a bind

This means that Van Aken is once again in a tight spot in this internal party debate: many, especially young members, are demanding more support for the Palestinians. They don’t let the fact that their choice of words is perceived by Jewish Germans as anti-Semitic, hurtful, threatening and dangerous to stop them.

The youth organization Solid had spoken in a resolution of the “colonial and racist character of the Israeli state project” – a choice of words that the party leadership criticized.

The left’s mayoral candidate in Berlin-Neukölln, Ahmed Abed, called the mayor of Neukölln’s Israeli sister city of Bat Yam, Tzvika Brot, a “genocider” at the event in the town hall.

The Left in Berlin-Neukölln planned a pro-Palestinian solidarity event, which was also attended by a group that, according to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, has a connection to Hamas – the Islamist militia that carried out the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, to which Israel then responded with the Gaza war.

Also an issue in the election campaign

In Berlin, several prominent members such as the former Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer left the party in autumn 2024 because of the dispute over the Middle East conflict and anti-Semitism. The issue is also an open flank for the Left in the Berlin election campaign, where the CDU repeatedly points to allegations of anti-Semitism.

The topic is on the agenda again at the federal party conference of the Left in Potsdam in June. The left will “update its position” there, announced party leader van Aken.