Culture as Controversy

By Tommy Hodgson

How Germany is destroying its own arts scene to support Israel

Germany’s relationship with Israel has typically been one of unwavering support, tied to Germany’s historical guilt over perpetuating the Holocaust. For this, the state is extremely vigilant about creeping antisemitism, an undoubtedly valid and real fear.

Germany conflating the state of Israel as a political entity with the Jewish identity, and therefore its brandishing of criticism of Israel as a form of antisemitism, has led it to dark and discriminatory places.

As writer Lukas Hermsmeier put it in his New York Times piece, this approach has created “an atmosphere where advocacy for Palestinian rights or a cease-fire in Gaza is seen as suspect, running afoul of the state-mandated position.”

The way this phenomenon has manifested is not merely through the suppression of pro-Palestinian rallies – although there is no shortage of that – but an attack on the very culture of resistance and promotion of alternative voices. This has taken many forms but usually involves the banning or cancellation of allegedly controversial events, which often centre migrant experiences.

Frankfurt Book Fair made a splash when it called off an awards ceremony for Palestine-born novelist Adania Shibli in the aftermath of the violence in Israel and Palestine. An open letter of support for Shibli by other authors condemned the decision and accused the book fair of “shutting down” Palestinian voices.

Culture as Controversy

By Tommy Hodgson

How Germany is destroying its own arts scene to support Israel