German political figures, including Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, have criticised the Berlinale for platforming “antisemites” following the award ceremony for the Israeli-Palestinian film No Other Land.
Award recipients criticise Israeli actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Upon receiving their awards on-stage, some award recipients made remarks critical of actions by the states of Germany and Israel, including in relation to the war in Gaza.
Palestinian director Basel Adra and Israeli director Yuval Abraham attended the ceremony and made remarks critical of actions by the Israeli state, including terming Israel’s occupation of the West Bank − the theme of their film − as “apartheid”. Abraham also demanded a ceasefire and “political solution” for the war in Gaza. Adra called for Germany to “respect the [sic] UN calls and stop sending weapons to Israel.”
Our film “No Other Land” on occupied Masafer Yatta’s brutal expulsion won best documentary in Berlinale. Israel’s channel 11 aired this 30 second segment from my speech, insanely called it “anti semitic” – and I’ve been receiving death threats since. I stand behind every word. pic.twitter.com/2burPfZeKO
— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) February 25, 2024
Ben Russell, one of the directors of DIRECT ACTION, also made remarks critical of Israel as he appeared in a Kufiya to receive their award. He expressed his support for a ceasefire and − according to German media − stated his opposition to what he termed a genocide.
“No place for antisemitism”
Berlin Mayor: “intolerable relativisation”
Das, was gestern auf der Berlinale vorgefallen ist, war eine untragbare Relativierung. In Berlin hat Antisemitismus keinen Platz, und das gilt auch für die Kunstszene. Ich erwarte von der neuen Leitung der Berlinale, sicherzustellen, dass sich solche Vorfälle nicht wiederholen.
— Kai Wegner (@kaiwegner) February 25, 2024
What happened yesterday at the Berlinale was an intolerable relativisation. Antisemitism has no place in Berlin − including for the cultural scene. I expect the new management of Berlinale to ensure that such incidents do not repeat.
Kai Wegner, Mayor of Berlin
Sie allein hat es in der Hand, dieses Leid zu beenden, indem sie alle Geiseln freilässt und die Waffen niederlegt. Hier gibt es keinen Raum für Relativierungen.
— Kai Wegner (@kaiwegner) February 25, 2024
Berlin has a clear position when it is about freedom. Berlin firmly stands on Israel’s side. There is no doubt about that. The full responsibility for the deep suffering in Israel and the Gaza Strip lies with Hamas.
It alone has the ability to end this suffering − by freeing all hostages and laying down arms. There is no room for relativisation here.
Berlin Minister for Culture: “anti-Israel propaganda”
Die Kultur sollte Raum für vielfältige politische Meinungsäußerungen bieten, doch die diesjährige Preisverleihung der Berlinale war geprägt von selbstgerechter antiisraelischer Propaganda, die nicht auf die Bühnen Berlins gehört. Es ist zu hoffen, dass die Festivalleitung die…
— Joe Chialo (@ChialoJoe) February 25, 2024
Joe Chialo, Berlin Minister for Culture, called the awards ceremony “self-righteous anti-Israel propaganda”. He expressed desires that “the festival’s management promptly deals with the incidents”.
Criticism also from the SPD
According to rbb, SPD‘s Spokesperson on Media Policy, Melanie Kühnemann-Grunow, criticised the occurence as what she saw to be “irreparable harm” to the Berlinale, stressing that the festival receives €2 million from the state budget of Berlin.
“Some cultural figures ostensibly have a lack of the ability to differentiate − including to see the suffering of Israel,” said the MP. “For me there lacks a critical view of the 7th of October and the recognition that this day was traumatic for the Israeli state.”1
rbb Director-General repudiates accusations
In an interview to rbb, rbb’s Director-General said:
Every injustice has a right to be heard and seen − including the suffering in the West Bank portrayed in the film ‘No Other Land’. It however by no means relativises the horrible crimes committed by Hamas on the 7th of October in the south of Israel, which has costed the lives of so many Jews.2
Ulrike Demmer, Director-General of rbb
- “Politik wertet Israel-Kritik bei Preisverleihung als ‘Schaden für die Berlinale’”, rbb. Accessed 26 February 2024 ↩︎
- “Jedes Unrecht hat ein Recht darauf, gehört und gesehen zu werden — so auch das Leid das der Film ‘No Other Land’ im Westjordanland beschreibt. Das relativiert aber in keiner Weise die furchtbaren Verbrechen, die die Hamas am 7. Oktober im Süden Israels verübt hat, und die so viele Juden das Leben gekostet hat.”
https://youtu.be/gHCdpBccMFQ?si=abju3fjblAhpg9Ls&t=165 ↩︎
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