Elif Eralp calls for Palestinians’ views to be considered

Berlin election winner Elif Eralp rejects antisemitism allegation over Israel criticism

Berlin election winner Elif Eralp rejected accusations of antisemitism, arguing that criticism of the Israeli government is not equivalent to antisemitism. Eralp called for the views of Muslims, Palestinians and Jews to receive greater consideration from Berlin authorities.

Scraper SystemSeptember 22, 2026, 10:23 AM

Berlin election winner Elif Eralp rejects antisemitism allegation over Israel criticism

Berlin election winner Elif Eralp rejected accusations that she is antisemitic, saying that the perspectives of Palestinians and Muslims are not being taken sufficiently into account. Eralp assessed the Berlin election results at the Federal Press Center with Ines Schwerdtner, co-chair of The Left.

Eralp said criticism of the Israeli government could not be treated as synonymous with antisemitism and stated that they oppose all forms of antisemitism. Stressing that the two issues must be clearly distinguished, Eralp also said they oppose the use of criticism of the Israeli government as a tool.

Emphasis on the views of Palestinians and Jews

Eralp said that widespread suspicion and prejudice toward Muslims and Palestinians were unacceptable. She said the Berlin state government was not giving sufficient consideration to the perspectives of these communities and noted that the views of many Jewish people were also not being adequately taken into account.

Eralp said it was their responsibility to bring different communities’ views to light and bring them together, adding that she would stand alongside Jews in Berlin. She said she would work resolutely to protect Jews.

Far right, rents and poverty on Berlin’s agenda

Eralp said far-right forces were gaining strength in Berlin and argued that democratic parties needed to return to a politics that brought together different sections of society. She said rising rents and the cost of living were making it harder for working people, earners and those raising children to make ends meet.

Schwerdtner argues that criticism of Israel is not antisemitism

Ines Schwerdtner also said criticism of the Israeli government and military should not be equated with antisemitism. Schwerdtner said they did not want Jews in Germany to live in fear and noted that they would fight antisemitism.

Schwerdtner said media organizations needed to make this distinction more carefully, arguing that the accusation of antisemitism being used too frequently and broadly could overshadow the significance of genuine cases of antisemitism.

Arms shipments to Israel and child poverty

Schwerdtner said they opposed the German government’s continued arms shipments to Israel and stated that they did not want weapons sent to the Israeli military, which she alleged had committed war crimes. Schwerdtner also stressed that they would reject calls for violence of any kind.

Drawing attention to child poverty in Berlin, Schwerdtner said one in every five children in the city lived in poverty. She also argued that the Christian Democratic Union was using accusations of antisemitism against The Left for political purposes and said the CDU should question the consequences of its policies.

Berlin election winner Elif Eralp rejects antisemitism allegation over Israel criticism