Response of the counter protestor

February 9th, 2024

1. What is your assessment of the discourse at the Freie Universität before and since Oct. 7th? What if anything has changed until now?

As a freshman, I can't say what it was like before, but it can't be that antisemitism only emerged at the FU after October 7. It's just that it's now showing itself particularly harshly, especially in very emotional and unhelpful discussions, which unfortunately usually end in Israel-related antisemitism, at least that was the case in all the discussions I was involved in. I hope that a lot of students have had different experiences, but many of those around me report that they have had similar experiences to mine. Unfortunately, the longer the war goes on, the more antisemitism manifests itself, becomes more aggressive and threats of violence also increase. 

2. Are meaningful, constructive and respectful discussions regarding the topic of Palestine and Israel possible and accessible for all students, lecturers and staff of Freie Universität? Why or why not? 

I don’t believe that these discussions are possible at the moment, because sadly we have no common grounds to agree on. The side who claims to support the Palestinians and the innocent civilians of Gaza, are chanting “Yallah Intifada” and “from the river to the sea”(which calls for the eradication of Israel and the murder of millions of Jews). People like “Klasse gegen Klasse/ Waffen der Kritik” have no problem with using undemocratic methods like posting the faces of Jewish students, who are brave enough to stand against antisemitism and calling them “right-wing jews”, which results in anonymous calls by other antisemites and islamists.I really believe that not everyone who follows these extremists or was part of the occupation, is an antisemite and that we could have a conversation about the current events, but sadly a lot of those who claim to be pro-Palestine at this university are sadly pro-hamas. 

3. Freie Universität Berlin states that it offers a variety of ways, such as contact persons, debate forums and committees to engage in protests and make grievances heard. Why did the student group then choose to occupy lecture hall 1a in spite the existence of these spaces the university offers?

I don’t know about the offers of the university, I only know about one event after the occupation. I can understand if the “pro-Palestinians” want to talk about the current events, but for my part I can say every time I tried to discuss with them it ended in insults, threats and was mostly about the false claims of genocide. They tried to force their opinion on everybody else and like extremists do, they wanted to try this by occupying the lecture hall 1a, which wasn’t accomplished and went poorly wrong. After loads of antisemitic incidents after October 7th the university promised to establish an Antisemitism commissioner, who you can’t even find on the website and still doesn’t exist! But empty promises are typical for this university administration in the fight against antisemitism… 

4. What student organizations and groups participated in the occupation?

On the instagram-account “studentsforpalestine_fu” they proudly listed the organizations, who participated at the antisemitic event on December 14th. “Waffen der Kritik, student_coalition_berlin, Young Struggle, Zora, Migrantifa, pa_allies, Gruppe Arbeiter:innenmacht”. Not only these groups participated in the occupation, most of them are left extremist groups that spread their antisemitism and some of them, like Zora, already had their facilities raided and searched by the police because they spread propaganda of the banned terrorist organization PFLP, also famous antisemites like Salah Said attended the occupation. 

5./6. Why was the police called during the occupation of the lecture hall 1a? The occupation has been deemed as having held antisemitic sentiments. Could you elaborate what acts of antisemitism took place? 

The police was called twice during the occupation, the first time because the self-appointed "stewards" of the occupation felt that they had to use violence against the Jewish, Israeli and pro-Israeli students who wanted to enter the lecture hall. One of these attackers, who physically assaulted several of us several times during the occupation, was probably the main reason why the police arrived shortly after 12 a.m and charges were brought against him. After we were then allowed to enter the lecture hall at around 1/1:30 pm, as the university management had decided to give the extreme left-wing antisemites the space to spread their hatred on the condition that all students were allowed to enter the room, we witnessed the extent of the antisemites. Denial of October 7, the description of Hamas as "freedom fighters", glorification of the horrors of the Intifadas and the denial of Israel's existence as a state. Furthermore, we were not offered a space for discussion as promised, we were attacked and insulted when we tried to draw attention to our position by hanging posters of the Israeli hostages in Gaza next to their posters. We then drew the attention of the university representatives, who were always present, to the fact that they finally had to stop this, whereupon it took some time before they finally acted. Shortly after 3pm, the occupiers were told that they had to leave the room by 4pm, but the anti-Semites and their supporters did not comply, they rather insulted policemen upon their arrival at 5 pm, some of them had to be pulled outside by the police. The lecture hall was evacuated at around 5:30 pm. 

7. How do you feel about the press statement published by the Freie Universität regarding the occupation?

 I do not feel understood, nor can I understand why the university administration, despite witnessing the events in front of and inside the lecture hall, could give such a false account of the events. At least 3 representatives were present when Jewish, Israeli and pro-Israeli students were attacked, insulted and not allowed into the lecture hall because of their background. This board is incapable of fulfilling their responsibility towards the safety of their Jewish students or standing up to antisemites and then stabbing the students in the back who take on this task is cowardly and unfair. 

8. What have been the consequences for the students participating in the occupation?

The antisemites have been charged with trespassing in at least 20 cases and the university management is allegedly also considering banning them from the premises, I wonder what video footage was used, because as far as I can tell, we were the only ones to provide video evidence of the antisemitic incidents. For the students who campaigned against antisemitism m in front of and in the lecture hall, threats, hate speech on extreme left-wing websites and anonymous phone calls threatening violence are the consequences of their commitment. 

9. How have these events affected life on campus at the Freie Universität?

I know some students who are afraid to speak out on the subject, others only enter the university if they really have to or don't go to university at all. I'm not afraid, but I still walk around campus more carefully, especially when it comes to the mensa II. Fortunately, the issue isn't as big at my faculty as it is in others and I'm glad that our building isn't near the Rost- und Silberlaube 

10. How can those students who had occupied the lecture hall and the university meaningfully engage with one another regarding the issue of Palestine and Israel?

They can't. Enemies of democracy will never be able to talk to democrats, let alone work together. 

11. What can the university and the student body do to help the civilians affected by the current developments unfolding in Palestine and Israel? 

Unfortunately, there is not too much we can do for the victims of the war that Hamas started with the pogrom on October 7. What is important now is to stand by those who are affected by the growing antisemitism in this country and at this university. To show them that they are not alone and that their fight against hatred is just as much ours and that we will never again accept antisemitism and discrimination at German universities. 

12.  Finally, is there anything you'd like our readers to know?

Don't let the antisemites fool you, who are supposedly only concerned with the suffering of the Palestinians, but who shout "Yallah Intifada" or have no problem demonizing Israel and Zionism, who have no problem supporting Hamas or the PFLP, who seek the destruction of Israel and the extermination of the Jews. I also ask you to stand up against anti-Semitism wherever you encounter it. Question the pictures and videos that "independent journalists" upload on social media and watch out for self-proclaimed Middle East experts.  

Stay safe!