Entry ban for Varoufakis – demonstrators attack police
Because they wanted to prevent “anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda,” German authorities imposed an entry ban on Yanis Varoufakis. They feared he would appear at the “Palestine Congress.” Police officers were attacked at a demonstration after it was dispersed.
IIn connection with the controversial “Palestine Congress” in Berlin, the German authorities have also imposed an entry ban on the former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. “In order to prevent anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda at the event,” several entry bans were issued, the AFP news agency learned from security circles on Sunday. One of them concerns Varoufakis. First on Sunday the “Handelsblatt“ reported on the information from security circles about the entry ban.
Varoufakis, co-founder of the left-wing pan-European party Diem25, had on Saturday in the online network X wrote that the German Interior Ministry had issued a “ban on activity” against him, i.e. “a ban on any political activity.” This even applies to participation in online events, for example via the Zoom network. However, according to information from security circles, this is an entry ban.
Berlin’s Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) disagreed on Monday Varoufakis’ statement that an activity ban had been issued against him. She also defended the decision to cancel the event and not allow it again in the following days. “Our assessment in advance was confirmed that it is not about a critical discussion about Israeli politics, but about the networking of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic people and groups,” said the senator. She called the congress “this shameful event” that could not have been prevented.
200 demonstrators – pepper spray used
After the dissolution of the “Palestine Congress” in Berlin on Friday, demonstrators attacked the police on Sunday evening. Up to 200 demonstrators gathered near the Federal Chancellery around 6 p.m., the police said on Monday. A 29-year-old man used banned slogans in his speech, whereupon the police arrested him. The crowd then tried to free the man, spat on and attacked police officers. The police officers defended themselves with pepper spray. Some police and demonstrators were injured. Eight protesters were arrested.
The Berlin police canceled the controversial “Palestine Congress” shortly after it began. The police explained that the organizers had brought in a speaker who was banned from political activity. She ended the event and also announced a ban on Saturday and Sunday.