Incident in Leipzig hotel
Gil Ofarim comments on video recordings: “Made from victim to perpetrator”
Gil Ofarim has spoken out after allegations
© Tobias Hase / Picture Alliance
After video recordings sowed doubts about his story, Gil Ofarim spoke up. He said, among other things, that he was turned from victim to perpetrator.
Singer Gil Ofarim commented on the new development after his anti-Semitism allegations against a Leipzig hotel. “I knew what kind of waves that hit,” he said on Monday on TV channel Bild.
Gil Ofarim: “Made from victim to perpetrator”
“That I might be turned from victim to perpetrator and that I should have allegedly lied, that’s why I didn’t think about it and, to be honest, I wouldn’t have thought that either.”
The background to this are media reports that surveillance videos may raise questions about the events described by Ofarim. Accordingly, the chain with the Star of David should not have been clearly visible on the hotel’s surveillance cameras. The media had also referred to investigators. According to the public prosecutor’s office, several video recordings are currently being evaluated, but no information has been given on the content. He can understand that, according to the video evidence, it would look like he hadn’t worn the star. “Which is wrong. I always wore it.”
Ofarim reported in a video at the beginning of October that an employee of “The Westin Leipzig” had asked him to remove his necklace with a Star of David.
He would do the same again
Ofarim made a complaint. The Leipzig public prosecutor’s office has received several reports of the incident – also from the hotel employee accused of defamation.
Ofarim also explained to Bild: “I will continue to wear my Star of David. Whether under the T-shirt or on the T-shirt, it doesn’t matter. I always wear it and will continue to wear it,” he said. Regarding the incident in the hotel that he described, he said: “Compared to many other Jews, I opened my mouth and said something and resisted.” He added, “Everyone should open their mouths. I would do it all over again.”