NGOs ON FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM IN GERMANY

NGOs on Fighting anti-Semitism in Germany - Demands and concrete proposals....
(For the German version, please see: http://www.honestly-concerned.org/NGO-FORDERUNGSKATALOG.htm )
WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT/SIGNATORIES... YOUR SUPPOT IS KINDLY REQUESTED!!!!!!!!!! Pease reply A.S.A.P. to: redaktion@typoskript.net

NGOs ON FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM IN GERMANY

DEMANDS AND CONCRETE PROPOSALS

Introduction

The OSCE conference of Cordoba 2005 can be regarded as a failure.

The determined fight against antisemitism has been agreed upon at the Berlin conference in 2004. This year the implementation of the arranged resolutions should have been reviewed and put in concrete terms. This hardly happened; rather the majority of the OSCE states concentrated on the fight against so-called “islamophobia”. Without having to face any public objection, the representative of the Islamic Conference was able to claim in Cordoba that since Nine Eleven a “Kristallnacht” had been raging against the Muslims, that their extermination was imminent, and that the Muslims of today were the Jews of yesterday.

We look at this development, which is a symptom of a political change of climate, with great worries. The distinct repulsion of antisemitism is the core element of the global fight for human rights and democracy.

1. The Berlin Declaration / Measures in Germany

The Bundestag and the Federal Government are called upon to focus on the implementation of the commitments of Berlin . Effective measures against antisemitism should keep to the same standards both in domestic and in foreign policy.

They have to refer to both state, supranational and international authorities, as well as to the formation of the political will and civil society, and to the educational level. The OSCE and ODIHR are to be acted on along these lines. Due to the limited common standards at international conferences like the OSCE and against the backdrop of a rising antisemitism in Germany , we need to elaborate and support in particular measures for a national and local fight against antisemitism.

2. The “New” Antisemitism

The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all other relevant authorities are called upon to oppose antisemitism in its traditional and new forms, no matter whether it is politically, religiously or secularly defined. The pioneering resentment against Israel is to be ostracized as the core of modern antisemitism. Each generalized (“holistic”) approach - from racism to xenophobia - which denies the specific character of antisemitism is to be rejected.

Neither is antisemitism an exclusive problem of a radical right-wing environment nor is it exclusively an Eastern European challenge. What is new about the “new” antisemitism is that it is committed for the first time in the name of anti-racism, anti-colonialism and pacifism, that it can be found across various political environments, and that it is increasingly directed against Israel as “the Jew among the states”. This means that if criticism of Israeli policy works with coarse political and diplomatic double standards or comprises the demonization of Israel or of Zionism, even denies Israel the fundamental right to exist, this kind of criticism cannot be regarded as legitimate. It is rather antisemitic and should also be labelled as such. With the rise of islamism, antisemitism has reached a new level of militancy. The fight against antisemitism has to take these developments into consideration. Moreover, antisemitism is no exception of racism; an understanding like this would if at all comprehend a delusion with eliminatory aims in a reduced manner and would ignore the peculiarities of a negative cultural imprint, which has been passed on over a period of 2000 years.

3. EUMC Definition of Antisemitism

The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all relevant authorities are called upon to regard the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism as an obligatory basis for their own work.

This implies its embodiment in the office for the protection of the constitution, the federal and local criminal investigation agencies along with the state institutions of political education, the federal state governments, the school ministries, schools, universities, teacher-training and other educational institutions. The work of the authorities in Germany is to be adjusted to the European level of the EU-European Monitoring Centres. The aim should be that these standards and arrangements also apply to the conduct of other EU bodies and publicly financed organizations in the OSCE states.

4. Good Domestic Governance

Against the backdrop of the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism, the Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all other relevant authorities are called upon to persecute in particular antisemitism, antisemitic anti-Zionism and enmity towards Israel by political and state leadership and by protagonists in public service, especially in the field of political education (as is already the case with racist remarks).

Altogether, it is the obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany that its representatives and authorities as well as people, projects and institutions supported by the Federal Republic, DO NEITHER spread pro-terrorist, antisemitic and anti-Zionist demagogic slogans NOR such which are suitable to incite to enmity towards Jews and hatred of Israel. This implies that for the sake of Good Domestic Governance the support of projects and the employment of people must be discontinued if they either demonize or deligitimize the State of Israel or propagate, justify and accept attacks on Jews or the civilian population, or if they spread other types of antisemitic hatred. Accordingly, the support of the distribution of a movie like “Paradise Now”, which gloryfies terror against Israel , through state authorities is to be stopped immediately. The media and religious communities will also have to face respective criticism more than they have up to now. In return the NGOs and research facilities oblige themselves to work towards changes through civil commitment and to make a contribution to the monitoring. The aim is to work towards the acceptance in public debates that there can be no justification for antisemitism and for hatred towards Israelis (just as there is no justification for slavery, child abuse or terrorism). Organizations and institutions which spread antisemitic ideas and incite to terrorism and racial hatred should be banned. This is also true for antisemitic terror organizations like Hisbollah or Hamas as well as their auxiliary organizations and respective media in all OSCE states.

5. Good Foreign Governance

The Bundestag and the Federal Government are called upon to conduct and to conditionalize their foreign affairs along the lines of a concept of Good Governance which is directed against antisemitism. “Dialogue” as well as cultural and economic exchange, particularly financial support of states and organizations which tolerate or promote antisemitism, have to be stopped if the partner does not oblige himself to fight antisemitic agitation including hate propaganda against Israel (and unless common political minimum standards constitute a basis).

Good Governance is regarded in political science and political consulting largely as a consensual concept. On the one hand this implies the termination of the dialogue with organizations which use and propagate terror; on the other hand this implies that bilateral agreements, trade agreements and contracts have to be made with the condition that the partner states / signatory states (e.g. the Arab League, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran) oblige themselves to stop terrorist and antisemitic activities, to avoid the spread of antisemitic hate propaganda in the state media, and to ban propaganda promoting terror against Israel and the killing of civilian population. Excellent examples are the ban on “Al-Manar” broadcasting and - in the domestic field though with international effects - the ban on “Hisb ut-Tahrir”, yet first and foremost the new US-legislation concerning the PA [ Foreign Relations Authorization Act for 2006 and 2007 / H.R. 2601 ] , according to which material assistance measures are tied to the development of democracy, the rule of law, the fight against terrorist groups and, last but not least, the termination of the spreading of antisemitic hate propaganda through state media, schoolbooks and institutions or those which are controlled by the state / the Palestinian Authority.

6. Monitoring in Germany

The Federal Government and the Bundestag are called upon to build a new system for an effective national monitoring of antisemitism. This includes in particular an annual report on combating antisemitism internally and externally by the Federal Government to the German Bundestag.

The Federal Republic has to influence international institutions through national measures in a exemplary manner. A national monitoring along the binding EUMC Definition should accordingly be financially supported and developed and practiced in cooperation with the NGOs. This comprises the attention to antisemitic protagonists and criminal offences along with the analysis of public discourses and developmental trends as well as data from empirical social research. In doing so international cooperation partners (e.g. Vidal Sassoon Center, Stephen Roth Institute, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) should be won over to improve the academic and political image. The publication of a yearbook on antisemitism in Germany constitutes part of the monitoring.

7. Support for civil society actors

The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all relevant authorities are called upon to extend the financial support for civil society actors against antisemitism.

The activities of smaller NGOs, independent research institutes and committed individuals have to be supported in particular. This includes conferences, educational events, publication projects, research work et al. The promotion of an independent critical public relations, media and educational work as well as the enabling of the particularly important supervisory function of civil society must not remain limited to foundations which are affiliated to political parties and to NGOs which are close to the government and to parliament.

8. New school and extracurricular educational programs against antisemitism

The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all relevant authorities are called upon to provide the necessary means to support the educational programs at schools and other institutions to combat antisemitism which are stipulated in the OSCE declaration of Berlin along the lines of self-commitment.

Such educational programs have to communicate information on the causes and the course of the Holocaust as well as to uphold the memory of the Holocaust as an unprecedented crime against humanity and mankind. The history of the State of Israel is to be imparted without any prejudice. Jewish history, tradition and culture have to be dealt with at school and in continuing education, in which nongovernmental organizations should also play a role.

9. Task Force “Antisemitism” of the Bundestag

The Federal Government and the Bundestag are called upon to establish both a task force “Antisemitism” of the Bundestag and an institutionalised exchange forum between the Federal Government/ Bundestag and the NGOs.

The task force should discuss the measures against antisemitism on a regular basis and examine the results critically. The opportunities of NGOs and civil society actors for suggestions, discussions and criticism with the Federal Government and the Bundestag should be structured in a binding manner through a regular exchange forum.

Dr. Mario Ablin , Vice President, Interamerica –Interfaith

Daniela Bajar , NY-Office Coordinator, International Angelo Roncalli Committee

Abraham Dzialowski , Initiative 9. November 1938

Klaus Faber , Wissenschaftsforum der Sozialdemokratie in Berlin, Brandenburg und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Dr. András Kain , RAUL WALLENBERG LOGE BERLIN (B´nai B´rith)

Samuel Laster , DIE JÜDISCHE (www.juedische.at)

Margitta Neuwald-Golling , Vice President EUROPEAN COUNCIL of WIZO FEDERATIONS (Women International Zionist Organisation)

Thomas von der Osten-Sacken , WADI e.V.

René Pollak , ZIONISTISCHE ORGANISATION FRANKFURT

Jörg Rensmann , PROJEKT ARCHIV e.V.

Boris Ronis , HANS ROSENTHAL LOGE BERLIN (B´nai B´rith)

Ralf Schroeder , TYPOSKRIPT.NET (www.typoskript.net)

Sacha Stawski , HONESTLY CONCERNED (www.honestly-concerned.org)

Abigali Tenembaum , Vice President, The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation

Baruch Tenembaum , Gruender, Casa Argentina in Jerusalem

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	NGOs on Fighting anti-Semitism in Germany - Demands and concrete proposals.... (For the German version, please see: http://www.honestly-concerned.org/NGO-FORDERUNGSKATALOG.htm ) WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT/SIGNATORIES... YOUR SUPPOT IS KINDLY REQUESTED!!!!!!!!!! Pease reply A.S.A.P. to: redaktion@typoskript.net NGOs ON FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM IN GERMANY DEMANDS AND CONCRETE PROPOSALS Introduction The OSCE conference of Cordoba 2005 can be regarded as a failure. The determined fight against antisemitism has been agreed upon at the Berlin conference in 2004. This year the implementation of the arranged resolutions should have been reviewed and put in concrete terms. This hardly happened; rather the majority of the OSCE states concentrated on the fight against so-called “islamophobia”. Without having to face any public objection, the representative of the Islamic Conference was able to claim in Cordoba that since Nine Eleven a “Kristallnacht” had been raging against the Muslims, that their extermination was imminent, and that the Muslims of today were the Jews of yesterday. We look at this development, which is a symptom of a political change of climate, with great worries. The distinct repulsion of antisemitism is the core element of the global fight for human rights and democracy. 1. The Berlin Declaration / Measures in Germany The Bundestag and the Federal Government are called upon to focus on the implementation of the commitments of Berlin . Effective measures against antisemitism should keep to the same standards both in domestic and in foreign policy. They have to refer to both state, supranational and international authorities, as well as to the formation of the political will and civil society, and to the educational level. The OSCE and ODIHR are to be acted on along these lines. Due to the limited common standards at international conferences like the OSCE and against the backdrop of a rising antisemitism in Germany , we need to elaborate and support in particular measures for a national and local fight against antisemitism. 2. The “New” Antisemitism The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all other relevant authorities are called upon to oppose antisemitism in its traditional and new forms, no matter whether it is politically, religiously or secularly defined. The pioneering resentment against Israel is to be ostracized as the core of modern antisemitism. Each generalized (“holistic”) approach - from racism to xenophobia - which denies the specific character of antisemitism is to be rejected. Neither is antisemitism an exclusive problem of a radical right-wing environment nor is it exclusively an Eastern European challenge. What is new about the “new” antisemitism is that it is committed for the first time in the name of anti-racism, anti-colonialism and pacifism, that it can be found across various political environments, and that it is increasingly directed against Israel as “the Jew among the states”. This means that if criticism of Israeli policy works with coarse political and diplomatic double standards or comprises the demonization of Israel or of Zionism, even denies Israel the fundamental right to exist, this kind of criticism cannot be regarded as legitimate. It is rather antisemitic and should also be labelled as such. With the rise of islamism, antisemitism has reached a new level of militancy. The fight against antisemitism has to take these developments into consideration. Moreover, antisemitism is no exception of racism; an understanding like this would if at all comprehend a delusion with eliminatory aims in a reduced manner and would ignore the peculiarities of a negative cultural imprint, which has been passed on over a period of 2000 years. 3. EUMC Definition of Antisemitism The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all relevant authorities are called upon to regard the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism as an obligatory basis for their own work. This implies its embodiment in the office for the protection of the constitution, the federal and local criminal investigation agencies along with the state institutions of political education, the federal state governments, the school ministries, schools, universities, teacher-training and other educational institutions. The work of the authorities in Germany is to be adjusted to the European level of the EU-European Monitoring Centres. The aim should be that these standards and arrangements also apply to the conduct of other EU bodies and publicly financed organizations in the OSCE states. 4. Good Domestic Governance Against the backdrop of the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism, the Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all other relevant authorities are called upon to persecute in particular antisemitism, antisemitic anti-Zionism and enmity towards Israel by political and state leadership and by protagonists in public service, especially in the field of political education (as is already the case with racist remarks). Altogether, it is the obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany that its representatives and authorities as well as people, projects and institutions supported by the Federal Republic, DO NEITHER spread pro-terrorist, antisemitic and anti-Zionist demagogic slogans NOR such which are suitable to incite to enmity towards Jews and hatred of Israel. This implies that for the sake of Good Domestic Governance the support of projects and the employment of people must be discontinued if they either demonize or deligitimize the State of Israel or propagate, justify and accept attacks on Jews or the civilian population, or if they spread other types of antisemitic hatred. Accordingly, the support of the distribution of a movie like “Paradise Now”, which gloryfies terror against Israel , through state authorities is to be stopped immediately. The media and religious communities will also have to face respective criticism more than they have up to now. In return the NGOs and research facilities oblige themselves to work towards changes through civil commitment and to make a contribution to the monitoring. The aim is to work towards the acceptance in public debates that there can be no justification for antisemitism and for hatred towards Israelis (just as there is no justification for slavery, child abuse or terrorism). Organizations and institutions which spread antisemitic ideas and incite to terrorism and racial hatred should be banned. This is also true for antisemitic terror organizations like Hisbollah or Hamas as well as their auxiliary organizations and respective media in all OSCE states. 5. Good Foreign Governance The Bundestag and the Federal Government are called upon to conduct and to conditionalize their foreign affairs along the lines of a concept of Good Governance which is directed against antisemitism. “Dialogue” as well as cultural and economic exchange, particularly financial support of states and organizations which tolerate or promote antisemitism, have to be stopped if the partner does not oblige himself to fight antisemitic agitation including hate propaganda against Israel (and unless common political minimum standards constitute a basis). Good Governance is regarded in political science and political consulting largely as a consensual concept. On the one hand this implies the termination of the dialogue with organizations which use and propagate terror; on the other hand this implies that bilateral agreements, trade agreements and contracts have to be made with the condition that the partner states / signatory states (e.g. the Arab League, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran) oblige themselves to stop terrorist and antisemitic activities, to avoid the spread of antisemitic hate propaganda in the state media, and to ban propaganda promoting terror against Israel and the killing of civilian population. Excellent examples are the ban on “Al-Manar” broadcasting and - in the domestic field though with international effects - the ban on “Hisb ut-Tahrir”, yet first and foremost the new US-legislation concerning the PA [ Foreign Relations Authorization Act for 2006 and 2007 / H.R. 2601 ] , according to which material assistance measures are tied to the development of democracy, the rule of law, the fight against terrorist groups and, last but not least, the termination of the spreading of antisemitic hate propaganda through state media, schoolbooks and institutions or those which are controlled by the state / the Palestinian Authority. 6. Monitoring in Germany The Federal Government and the Bundestag are called upon to build a new system for an effective national monitoring of antisemitism. This includes in particular an annual report on combating antisemitism internally and externally by the Federal Government to the German Bundestag. The Federal Republic has to influence international institutions through national measures in a exemplary manner. A national monitoring along the binding EUMC Definition should accordingly be financially supported and developed and practiced in cooperation with the NGOs. This comprises the attention to antisemitic protagonists and criminal offences along with the analysis of public discourses and developmental trends as well as data from empirical social research. In doing so international cooperation partners (e.g. Vidal Sassoon Center, Stephen Roth Institute, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) should be won over to improve the academic and political image. The publication of a yearbook on antisemitism in Germany constitutes part of the monitoring. 7. Support for civil society actors The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all relevant authorities are called upon to extend the financial support for civil society actors against antisemitism. The activities of smaller NGOs, independent research institutes and committed individuals have to be supported in particular. This includes conferences, educational events, publication projects, research work et al. The promotion of an independent critical public relations, media and educational work as well as the enabling of the particularly important supervisory function of civil society must not remain limited to foundations which are affiliated to political parties and to NGOs which are close to the government and to parliament. 8. New school and extracurricular educational programs against antisemitism The Bundestag and the Federal Government, the parliaments and governments of the federal states as well as all relevant authorities are called upon to provide the necessary means to support the educational programs at schools and other institutions to combat antisemitism which are stipulated in the OSCE declaration of Berlin along the lines of self-commitment. Such educational programs have to communicate information on the causes and the course of the Holocaust as well as to uphold the memory of the Holocaust as an unprecedented crime against humanity and mankind. The history of the State of Israel is to be imparted without any prejudice. Jewish history, tradition and culture have to be dealt with at school and in continuing education, in which nongovernmental organizations should also play a role. 9. Task Force “Antisemitism” of the Bundestag The Federal Government and the Bundestag are called upon to establish both a task force “Antisemitism” of the Bundestag and an institutionalised exchange forum between the Federal Government/ Bundestag and the NGOs. The task force should discuss the measures against antisemitism on a regular basis and examine the results critically. The opportunities of NGOs and civil society actors for suggestions, discussions and criticism with the Federal Government and the Bundestag should be structured in a binding manner through a regular exchange forum. Dr. Mario Ablin , Vice President, Interamerica –Interfaith Daniela Bajar , NY-Office Coordinator, International Angelo Roncalli Committee Abraham Dzialowski , Initiative 9. November 1938 Klaus Faber , Wissenschaftsforum der Sozialdemokratie in Berlin, Brandenburg und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Dr. András Kain , RAUL WALLENBERG LOGE BERLIN (B´nai B´rith) Samuel Laster , DIE JÜDISCHE (www.juedische.at) Margitta Neuwald-Golling , Vice President EUROPEAN COUNCIL of WIZO FEDERATIONS (Women International Zionist Organisation) Thomas von der Osten-Sacken , WADI e.V. René Pollak , ZIONISTISCHE ORGANISATION FRANKFURT Jörg Rensmann , PROJEKT ARCHIV e.V. Boris Ronis , HANS ROSENTHAL LOGE BERLIN (B´nai B´rith) Ralf Schroeder , TYPOSKRIPT.NET (www.typoskript.net) Sacha Stawski , HONESTLY CONCERNED (www.honestly-concerned.org) Abigali Tenembaum , Vice President, The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation Baruch Tenembaum , Gruender, Casa Argentina in Jerusalem WADI e.V. \| tel.: (+49) 069-57002440 \| fax (+49) 069-57002444 http://www.wadinet.de \| e-mail: