War in the Middle East
Heated atmosphere before the “Palestine Congress” in Berlin
Participants of the “Palestine Congress” and police officers stand in front of the event hall in Berlin-Tempelhof. photo
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
In Berlin, the organizers of a “Palestine Congress” are accusing Israel and Germany. This does not go unchallenged. The police are preparing for a major operation.
Shortly before the start of the controversial “Palestine Congress” in Berlin shows a heated mood among the participants. Around 200 people who stood in line at the entrance to the event building in the Tempelhof district loudly chanted again and again: “Viva, Viva Palestine” and “Germany finances, Israel bombs.” Individuals waved Palestine flags. According to the police, the entrance and the start of the “Palestine Congress” planned for 2 p.m. were delayed because the construction inside has not yet been completed.
Numerous barriers were set up in front of the large office building on Germaniastrasse near Tempelhofer Feld. Numerous police squad cars are ready, with support from North Rhine-Westphalia. Private security guards also check at the entrance. A total of 900 police officers are expected to be on duty on Friday. Demonstrations are also expected in the wider city area.
Police issue conditions
The police legally classified the congress as a demonstration and issued so-called conditions, i.e. bans, similar to other pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Burning flags, calls for violence against Israel and symbols of terrorist organizations were prohibited. Police officers and interpreters should also be present in the rooms.
The organizers had told the police that 850 tickets had been sold, but it was unclear whether they were valid for one day or several days. On Friday it was said that the rooms were approved for 250 people at the same time.
According to the Senate Interior Administration, organizations that belong to the anti-Israel “boycott spectrum” called for the congress. A non-partisan “alliance against anti-Semitic terror” of politicians from the FDP, SPD, Greens, CDU/CSU and the Left as well as some initiatives announced that glorification of terror and calls for the destruction of Israel were to be expected.