In a letter to the Federal government to reconsider the support for NGOs such as “bread for the world” and the Jewish Museum Berlin, cut off his money. What’s up with that?
“The German promotion of non-governmental organisations to intervene in the internal Affairs of Israel or Anti-Israel-promoting activities, is unique,” reads the Letter with no sender and signature, the German daily newspaper “taz” and probably from Israel comes. “We would like that the Federal government continues its financial support to the full stop of such activities”. The Federal government will have to undertake “a Review of their funding guidelines,” urges the author.
Specifically, the financing of a total of twelve NGOs with their partners in Israel and Palestine – including “bread for the world” and “Misereor is questioned” – that the various political foundations, such as the Green-affiliated Heinrich-Böll-Foundation, the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and the Berlinale.
“Art and freedom of expression are fundamental rights”
Berlinale chief Dieter Kosslick said of the allegation in the “daily mirror”, the founding idea of the Berlinale, it was to contribute to international understanding. The presentation is one of different perspectives on the world. “The freedom of art and freedom of expression are fundamental rights.”
The Federal cultural authority left to tell, the state Minister for Culture Monika Grütters have taken note of the concerns of the Israeli government. You appreciate and protect the autonomy of the Berlinale in artistic questions. It understand, “the Berlinale should neither be declared enemies of Israel to other fundamentalist or anti-democratic movements a stage”.
Jewish Museum Berlin: the exhibition with the wrong perspective
The Central showroom “The Holy city” at the Jewish Museum in Berlin
The background for the criticism of the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Exhibition “Welcome to Jerusalem”, because they reflect a “Palestinian-Muslim view of Jerusalem”, the Write. The exhibition, which is already since a year, presented to the Holy city from different perspectives as the controversial place of the three monotheistic religions.
It was the Belief that “an open discussion involving various, partly controversial points of view, be necessary in order to enable our visitors to form their own, nuanced judgment,” said the Museum. And with reference to a post of Museum Director Peter shepherd in the daily mirror, it means more: It is, of course, is that activists are starting to think of any political direction, not a Forum, what applies in particular for supporters or activists of the BDS-campaign (…). “We are seeing the increasing spread of a ‘culture of suspicion’ with care.”
Federal government covered
Israel increased the pressure on independent and critical civil society is nothing New. The Heinrich-Böll-Foundation watch for quite some time, and described the development of the DW as a “cause for concern”. Israel is the only stable democracy in the Region, the current government “should preserve these achievements,” said spokesman Michael Alvarez. The allegations in the Letter were “absurd” and a magazine “+972” – this is funded by the Böll-Foundation for financially – such as “anti-Israel”, was defamatory and an attack on journalists and freedom of the press in Israel.
The Federal government is holding back with Comments on the matter. It has so far neither confirmed nor denied that the document comes directly from the Israeli government.
On the question of whether you have exchanged information with Israel about the Letter, didn’t want to take the Deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer at yesterday’s Federal press conference directly and pointed out that many questions in close and regular exchange with the Israeli government. Germany encourages Israel, only projects of facilities that are “registered in Israel under Israeli law” and not the NGOs as a Whole.
According to information from the “taz” is supposed to be gone the Letter also to the German Federal development Ministry (BMZ). The BMZ rejects this, however.