Prof. Dr. Meron Mendel talks about anti-Semi­tism, racism and the debate after 7 October

Why does the Mid­dle East con­flict divide Ger­man society?

Hard­ly any oth­er top­ic is debat­ed in such a polar­iz­ing way as the Mid­dle East con­flict. One year after the Hamas mas­sacre on Octo­ber 7, 2023 and the sub­se­quent war in Gaza, the debate is still omnipresent. In pol­i­tics, the world of art and cul­ture, at uni­ver­si­ties, on the streets and on social media, only two posi­tions seem pos­si­ble: either you side with Israel or you side with the Pales­tini­ans. At the same time, there has been a dra­mat­ic increase in anti-Semit­ic attacks. Mus­lims are also being sub­ject­ed to more hostility.

How is it pos­si­ble to dis­cuss the Mid­dle East con­flict with­out using anti-Semit­ic or racist arguments? 
What do we need for a con­struc­tive debate?

The his­to­ri­an and jour­nal­ist Prof. Dr. Meron Mendel ana­lyzes the Ger­man debate on the Mid­dle East con­flict in an inter­na­tion­al con­text and points out pos­si­bil­i­ties for dia­logue. Meron Mendel is Pro­fes­sor of Social Work and Direc­tor of the Anne Frank Edu­ca­tion­al Cen­ter. His most recent book is “Über Israel reden. Eine deutsche Debat­te” (Kiwi Ver­lag 2023) and, togeth­er with Saba-Nur Cheema, ”Mus­lim-Jew­ish Evening Meal. Coex­is­tence in times of polar­iza­tion” (Kiwi Ver­lag 2024).

Admis­sion from 7.30 pm