Decades of Turkish-German relations and Germany still doing Döner Diplomacy like it’s 1970.
t-online.de/nachrichten/de…

Many thanks to Simon Van Dorpe/Follow the Money EU for insights into his work uncovering EU shenanigans.

That and other stories on this week's episode for EUobserver! Listen below (or wherever you go for podcasts), and subscribe at euroscopic.substack.com.
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/eur…

We are deeply concerned about reports of police intervention at #PalestineCongress & that invited speaker Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta was denied entry to #Germany .

These serious risks to freedom of expression & discrimination must urgently be investigated by German authorities.

“Anyone who spreads Islamist propaganda and hatred against Jews must know that this will be prosecuted quickly and consistently.”

So … they arrested … a Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost Jew?

IHRA definition in practice: Senatskanzlei Berlin Kai Wegner says 'hate for Israel has no place in Berlin.' But Polizei Berlin shut down #palaestinakongress and detained Jewish head of Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost for alleged 'risk of antisemitic comments.'

Berlin mayor: 'I would like to thank Polizei Berlin for their decisive intervention at this hate event. We made it clear what rules apply in Berlin. We made it clear that hatred of Israel has no place in Berlin.'
#palaestinakongress

A reminder that Germany follows the IHRA definition of 'antisemitism,' which considers as such e.g. 'targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity' or 'claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.'

'At the 'Palestine Congress,' a speaker was invited who is banned from political activity. There is a risk that a speaker who has made antisemitic statements or glorified violence will be invited to speak again. The assembly was therefore terminated.'

Some useful context: A major German broadcaster hosted a primetime political debate last night with Björn Höcke — co-leader of the far-right AfD in the state of Thuringia whom German domestic intelligence has classified as a far-right extremist.
youtu.be/wA3TmMyKAtY?si…

BREAKING

German police are now arresting people outside the building where the event was taking place. Those arrested include Udi Raz from Jewish Voice for Peace.

Disgusting behaviour from the police, but unfortunately not surprising!

#PalaestinaKongress #WeAccuseGermany

Organizers say #palaestinakongress has now been banned by police.

'Due to legal checks in connection with speeches, the livestream of the assembly will be temporarily interrupted by switching off the power. We ask for your patience.'
#palaestinakongress

Berlin police appear to enter and interrupt the Palestine Conference, allegedly to review comments by Salman Abu-Sitta, who was less than two minutes into remarks via livestream.

This is what he was saying at the time: youtube.com/live/I4kiqhjiU… twitter.com/redstreamnet/s…

Footage of MERA25 Deutschland's Karin De Rigo speaking with Al Jazeera inside the Palestine Congress building where German police stormed the building and stopped the event.

'They're doing this to intimidate people, to stop people from speaking up for Palestinian rights.'

Prominent British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sittah said authorities in Germany have detained him and are refusing him entry into the country. Abu Sittah was due to speak at a Palestinian conference in Berlin on Friday
pulse.ly/foaydwz6mv

Sehr lesenswert.

For The 'Schland, some wrap-up thoughts from The Hague:
schland.substack.com/p/icj-nicaragu…

A brief statement from the German side, with no questions taken. Germany's agent described the difficult need to find the right 'balance' amid a complicated conflict.