Negotiations between the Green Party, the SPD, and Die Linke in Berlin were cut short on Tuesday, primarily due to the inclusion of City Council member Vanessa Emde in the Linke faction. According to representatives Werner Graf (Greens) and Steffen Krach (SPD), the parties became aware that Die Linke had reached separate agreements within its own ranks. This necessitated pausing the consultations to determine if the commitments made the previous week remained valid. They expect Die Linke to clearly specify how and when it intends to adhere to the agreed-upon measures.
This situation arises after the Left party members had signed a joint declaration during a constituent meeting, affirming, among other things, commitment to the right of existence for both Israel and Palestine. Emde is facing criticism because she reportedly stated in May 2026 that there was no existence right for states, only for individuals.
previously, the Left, Greens, and SPD had laid out an agreement last Thursday to commence these exploratory discussions. The eight points in this three-party document focus on diversity, protecting and strengthening Jewish life, Holocaust remembrance, the right of existence of Israel, and combating anti-Semitism.
The three parties stated that they seek a city where everyone can live safely and openly express their beliefs and belonging. “Due to our history, we bear a special responsibility to protect Jewish life in Germany,” the Left, Greens, and SPD noted. They pledged to safeguard Jewish life, strengthen community ties, and advocate for peace and understanding. Furthermore, Berlin requires a politics that can help the city come back together. Mandate holders stated they support “a city where violence and terror are neither glorified nor relativized, where the right of existence of Israel is not questioned, and where any form of anti-Semitism has no place.” They concluded that all those who take responsibility for this guarantee it, both in the Bundestag and the Senate.
It is emphasized that Jewish residents must be able to live their religion, language, and identity safely, visibly, and with self-determination throughout the public sphere. The three parties committed to strengthening and protecting institutions, fostering Jewish communities, initiatives, culture, science, and religious practice. They pledged stable support for Jewish spaces, schools, kindergartens, community centers, and meeting places. They also stated they would make Jewish places and festivals visible in daily life and the public city space, taking Jewish holidays and events into account in public institutions.
Jewish individuals should be able to move through public spaces as naturally as everyone else. They vowed to oppose any climate that excludes people based on their actual or perceived political stance or origin. They condemned entry bans or slogans such as “No Zionists welcome” at bars, clubs, and other public venues, describing them as stigmatizing people as unwanted, creating intimidation, and contributing to division.
The parties explicitly oppose violence, hate speech, conspiracy theories, and the denial or relativization of the Shoah. They “clearly name Israel-related anti-Semitism.” Furthermore, they reject general boycotts and indiscriminate sanctions against Israel, Israeli institutions, or individuals solely based on their nationality, origin, or affiliation, such as the BDS campaign.
The Left, Greens, and SPD reaffirmed their support for these shared principles. They announced that should any violations of these fundamental principles occur, the respective factions will initiate their own disciplinary procedures. The statutes of the three parties and factions allow for consequences, including the exclusion of members. In such cases, the affected faction will inform its coalition partners, making its decision autonomously and transparently. They also agreed to address instances of anti-Semitism within the coalition factions collectively via a jointly agreed-upon mechanism.
