An End to the Shooting and Dying!
Declaration by DIE LINKE chairs, Katja Kipping and Bernd Riexinger, and chair of DIE LINKE faction in Bundestag, Dr. Gregor Gysi:
1. The war between Israel and Palestine continues to escalate. Given the hundreds of deaths, it is necessary to urgently stop the violence. Every death is one too many. The killings must come to an end. The violence must stop. A de-escalation and ceasefire is essential. The German Federal Government partially backs the acting of the Israeli Government. We call upon the Federal Government to work towards an immediate ceasefire.
The withdrawal of the Israeli Army from the Gaza Strip, an end to the Israeli attacks on the people in Gaza, and an end to Hamas’ missile threats and attacks on Israel are all mandatory. The Hardliners on both sides are only strengthened through the current escalation. The entire population suffers from this escalation; an escape from the spiralling violence is necessary.
2. The fundamental principles of DIE LINKE formulate the following about the Middle Eastern conflict: „Because of the Germans’ unprecedented crime against the Jews during German Fascism, Germany has a particular responsibility to confront any type of Anti-Semitism, racism, oppression, and war. This responsibility specifically obligates us to advocate for Israel’s right to exist. At the same time, we stand for the peaceful settlement of the Middle-Eastern conflict within the scope of a two-state solution and therefore the international recognition of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the basis of the United Nations’ Resolutions’.” This is mandatory for every members’ political actions in DIE LINKE. Our allies are those who advocate for a fair and peaceful solution. This means an independent and viable Palestinian State next to an Israeli state with safe and certain borders. We support those parts of the Israeli and Palestinian societies who in this sense advocate a just and peaceful coexistence.
3. Demonstrations against the escalating violence are appropriate. Mutual actions with anti-Semites, with people who both openly and subliminally caimpaign ‘against the Jews’, and with people who question Israel’ right of existence are no possibility for us. Likewise, we categorically oppose every form of open or subliminal campaigns against ‘the Palestinians’, ‘the Arabs’, or ‘the Muslims’. While Hamas fired its missiles at Israel the Israeli Government began the military attacks. Hardliner on both sides profit from this conflict’s continuation. The people on both sides are always the ones who suffer.
Violence, attacks, and threats towards people, violent acting before, during or after demonstrations, are neither endorsed nor accepted by DIE LINKE. Representatives of DIE LINKE have so far acted accordingly and will do even more so in the future.
The Left advocates for de-escalation and negotiations among all parties involved in the conflict and an immediate halt to all hostilities, and calls on the Federal Government to act accordingly. Arms exports to the region as a whole must be stopped immediately.