Israel's Foreign Ministry expressed shock that the German government is funding an event linking the Holocaust to the so-called 'Nakba' on the anniversary of Kristallnacht.
The event, titled "Grasping the Pain of the Others – Holocaust, Nakba and German Remembrance Culture" is scheduled to be held at the Goethe-Institute Israel building in Tel Aviv at the initiative of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation of the German Die Linke party.
The Foreign Ministry stated that it was "shocked and disgusted" at the event, calling it a "cynical and manipulative" attempt to use the memory of the Holocaust to attack Israel. The ministry called on all parties involved to cancel the event.
Matan Peleg, CEO ,of Im Tirtzu and author of the book 'A State for Sale', which reveals the depth of involvement and influence of foreign countries on what is happening in Israel, said: "The new government must reassess relations with the German government. We thank the Germans for assisting in our defense, but it is not possible that at the same time Germany promotes, in bodies funded by the federal government, a narrative of Nakba and the Holocaust. This is something that must stop immediately and is related to German funding initiatives to change our soldiers' open-fire policies, the funding of anti-Zionist organizations that persecute IDF soldiers, and more. Put an end to it.”
Merav Hajaj, from The Choosing Life Forum that represents bereaved families who will participate in tomorrow’s protest, said: "The German government dishonors the memory of the Holocaust, dishonors the fallen soldiers, and the bereaved families. The Nakba is an invented concept whose purpose is to negate the existence of the State of Israel. We paid a very heavy price in the defense of this country, the German government must intervening in Israel’s right to exist!''
