Berlin Left candidate Elif Eralp has committed to a robust campaign against antisemitism in any future coalition agreement. Speaking to the “Welt,” Eralp stated that joining the government would provide a clear pledge to fight antisemitism and support and promote Jewish life, ensuring that Jewish people can move freely and lead safe, good lives.
This pledge comes after the Left party faced heavy criticism for its stance on Israel. At the Potsdam party congress in June, the party declared the war in Gaza a genocide. Consequently, the Central Council of Jews accused them of promoting antisemitism. Eralp reacted to this by calling the sentiment expressed by Central Council President Josef Schuster “very regrettable and depressing.” She emphasized that she has engaged in continuous dialogue with various Jewish communities and that her door remains open for listening to their concerns.
Eralp maintains that a balanced view must account for both perspectives. “We must always see both sides: Jewish people in Berlin sometimes do not feel safe going out wearing a kippah and experience massive insults. Palestinian people in the city are grieving their relatives and have many worries,” she stated. On the international front, she sharply criticized the Israeli government, demanding that the “extremely right-wing Israeli government be criticized, arms deliveries must end, and the EU association agreement with Israel suspended.”
Moving to domestic issues, Eralp demanded greater transparency from the police. She argued that the parliament often lacked clear insight into police decisions, citing examples like the criteria used to classify a particular area as “crime-ridden.” Her election program calls for “democratizing” the police force and halting the acquisition of new equipment. Furthermore, she called for increased training for civil servants, specifically addressing discrimination sensitivity regarding queer hatred, racism, antisemitism, and sexism. Eralp insisted that the police force must better reflect societal realities and stated that if officers use disproportionate force or express racist views, they must be held accountable, noting that such cases are too often dropped.
