Anti-Semitism allegations at University of Jena: scandalous speech on the Gaza conflict

Anti-Semitism allegations at University of Jena: scandalous speech on the Gaza conflict

In the past few weeks, the University of Jena has caused heated discussions. Last Thursday there was an event entitled "The Destruction of the Health System in Gaza", organized by professors from the university. The pediatrician and activist Qassem Massri gave a lecture on the difficult situation in the Gaza Strip and made extremely controversial statements. While some considered these perspectives as necessary, the university's anti-Semitism representative, Thomas Kessler, expressed sharp criticism of parts of the lecture and votes from the audience, which he described as anti-Semitic. As MDR reports, Kessler explained that the Israelis was an "aggressive character", while the Hamas was celebrated as a "liberation army" in a positive light. This meant that Kessler left the event prematurely after it was repeatedly interrupted.

The organizers, professors Michael Börsch, Martin Leiner and Hendrik Süß, rejected the allegations of anti -Semitism and emphasized that different perspectives were discussed. They emphasized that Massri also presented data on the destruction of hospitals by the Israeli army. The Jewish alliance of Central Germany (JAM) and the young forum Jena of German-Israeli Society (Dig) nevertheless reported a clear anti-Semitic character of the event and demanded a public distancing from the events. These explosive statements led to a further escalation of the debate at the university.

health system and conflict

A central point in Massri's lecture was the claim that the Israeli army is waging a war of extermination and committed genocide. He was even cited with the statement that the Palestinians "would pay the price for the Holocaust". These provocative comments have caused a stir not only at the University of Jena, but also in the broader public. According to the organizers, the entire event will be recorded and is to be published on the Internet to further promote the discussion, as Jena Events.

The geopolitical tensions and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine also affect the academic world. Actions such as the occupation of universities in Germany, including the Humboldt University of Berlin, have shown that more and more students and teachers actively speak against the war in Gaza, as [GHWK reports] (https://www.ghwk.de/de/aktuelles/universitaetStaklung-und-israel- Anti-Semitism). These protests are not without controversy. Slogans and slogans that operate anti -Semitic stereotypes throw a shadow on the legitimacy of the concerns and create tensions within the universities.

The topic of anti -Semitism remains a hot iron that not only affects universities, but also society as a whole. Especially in times of escalating conflicts such as that in the Middle East, a differentiated and respectful coexistence is more important than ever. The University of Jena will have to deal with the aftermath of this controversial event - a topic that will not disappear so quickly from the agenda.