Ayatollah Khomeini invented the “AlQuds march” in 1979 in order to use this day for calls and demonstrations for the destruction of Israel. The reaction of society and of politics is very important to us; after all, it shows how our free society reacts to such incitement.
Here is the text of the speech by our chairman, Elio Adler, and next to it the address on video:Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends!
I stand before you for the WerteInitiative – jüdisch-deutsche Positionen. We are appalled that year after year demonstrations take place in the streets of our home – Germany – that have dedicated themselves to the destruction of Israel. Even if the Islamist slogans of hatred at the AlQuds demonstration shortly will presumably be packaged harmlessly, the demonstration as such is a disgrace. After all, it is not about criticism of Israel’s government policy, but of Israel’s pure existence.
We see that almost all politicians and the administration stand in solidarity behind Israel and us Jews, and we are sincerely grateful for that. But we also see that the practical implementation of this solidarity runs up against limits:
For to be in solidarity with us Jews and with Israel means not only being „against antisemitism“. Solidarity with us Jews and Israel means leaving the paths trodden so far, which are often comfortable, and applying the values of a free democratic basic order consistently. Solidarity with us means, in education, informing everyone who lives here about pluralist coexistence. Solidarity means the constant struggle to unmask conspiracy theorists. Solidarity with us Jews and with Israel means: educating those who lack a free and democratic basic attitude and punishing those who turn against our coexistence in a free society. Solidarity means using aid funds and support measures in order to require the observance of values from the recipients and to monitor this. And finally, solidarity with us also means shaking up the conditions at the security and public order authorities so that the state can better perform its most important task: the protection of its citizens.
Solidarity with us Jews and with Israel can be strenuous, because it often leads to an end of the comfortable „carrying on as before“. Because it forces one to show one’s colours and to take a position. But: on the face of it, this solidarity serves Jewish life in Germany and the existence of Israel. Carried a step further, however, this solidarity with us is the commitment to a values-based and life-affirming society. And thus the opposite of what, a few hundred metres from here, at the unspeakable AlQuds demo, is the agenda.
They celebrate death, we celebrate life!
The WerteInitiative says: Am Israel Chai!
(The spoken word applies)
