Janis Ehling, the national managing director of Germany’s Left party, sharply criticized the Lower Saxon branch’s anti‑Zionist resolution. “The decision is terrible and also factually wrong” he told “Politico”. He acknowledged that it is legitimate to distance the party from a “right‑wing Zionism” especially in light of the current Israeli government, but warned that a blanket rejection of Zionism goes too far.
Ehling also rejected claims that the party faces a fundamental antisemitism problem, though he admitted there is a “one‑sidedness” in parts of the organization. “This example shows very clearly that we have a serious problem with a single‑pointed view” he said. He added that many new, mostly young members have become politicized by the Gaza war, largely through social media.
During the internal debate over statements made by former party leader Gregor Gysi, Ehling denied allegations that antisemitism within the Left is mainly promoted by migrant members. “The accusations are simply not true” he asserted. When asked whether Gysi needs anti‑racist training, Ehling called instead for dialogue, suggesting that Gysi meet with migrant comrades and exchange perspectives.
