Climate activist Thunberg has once again sparked criticism with her participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Leipzig. The anti-Semitism commissioner Klein sees hatred of Israel in the Swede.
The Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has already attracted criticism several times for her pro-Palestinian statements and has been accused of anti-Semitism. On Wednesday, the Swede once again took part in a solidarity campaign for Palestinians in Leipzig. The organizer was a group that, among other things, accuses Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip. Thunberg also spoke of genocide during her speech and called for an unspecified boycott.
Thunberg spent some time at the demonstration in the city center, a police spokesman said. Around 200 people took part in the registered demonstration. The “Leipziger Volkszeitung” first reported on it.
According to the police spokesman, it was not known in advance that Thunberg, who became known worldwide as a leading figure in the climate protection group Fridays for Future, was taking part in the action in the Saxon city. There was also a small solidarity campaign for Israel in her area.
Clear criticism of Thunberg
The head of the Central Council of Jews and the federal government’s anti-Semitism commissioner criticized Thunberg’s participation in the demonstration. “Greta Thunberg has made a good name for herself as a climate activist and has raised an important issue – I understand her statements all the less now,” said Central Council Chairman Josef Schuster to the “Welt TV” broadcaster. Her statements, which are ultimately baseless and false, are of absolutely no use to the climate movement. Rather, it is damaging the climate movement, but also its own image.
The federal government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, also told “Welt TV” that Greta Thunberg was making herself untrustworthy and dismantling herself. “Actually, the concern to strengthen climate protection should be enough, and the activities and the hatred of Israel that Ms. Thunberg is spreading is unacceptable.” He welcomes the fact that the German climate protection movement is distancing itself from Thunberg’s behavior.
Violence against journalists in the area
After the police initially stated that the demonstration had taken place without incident, it has since become known that a journalist and his companion were brutally attacked in the vicinity of the rally. The unknown perpetrators then fled, the Leipzig police department said. The two men attacked, 20 and 22 years old, were injured. They had to be treated on an outpatient basis in a hospital.
The freelance journalist and his companion are said to have previously been at the meeting on the market square for the regional broadcaster “Sachsen Fernsehen”. The state security agency has taken over the investigation on suspicion of dangerous bodily harm.