Brief an das Vortreffen zur Durban Review Conference against Racism in Genf
Duisburg, 18 April 2009
Dear friends,
unfortunately, due to lack of time I cannot attend the Durban Review of the World Conference Against Racism in Geneva. I am absolutely in favour to hold that conference, support it and defend it against the its critiques, including the German government and the Pro-Israel Lobby here in Germany.
The racist oppression of the Palestinian people by the Israeli state, army and illegal settlers is an undeniable fact, is very well documented and obvious for everyone, who has got eyes to see and ears to listen. This at least more than 40 years long oppression must come an end!
In recent weeks I have been a victim of a smear campaign of mainstream media, political opponents, short sighted and opportunistic people as allegedly spreading “antisemitic” ideas. I never in my 40 year long political life as local trade union leader, leftist activist and politician have ever been accused of been “anti-Semitic”. This for the first time happened after having supported publicly the BDS-campaign against Israel.
But me and my political friends will not be silenced. We have never succumbed to injustice, denial of democracy and slander. We know very well, that the inextinguishable heritage of Nazi-Terror against the European Jews has to be taken into account, whenever critizising Israel.
Racism in all its forms, Islamophobia and Antisemitism must not be allowed everywhere in the world.
But me and my friends as German politicians are not ready at all to defend very severe violations of the human rights and the denial of the right of self determination of the Palestinian people or to keep silent about it, for the sole reason that Israel is responsible for it.
We are convinced that at least after the Gaza massacre, the public opinion in Germany is definitely changing on this subject. This is one explanation for the slander campaigns against everybody who is openly critizising the Israel politics as being “anti-Semitic”.
The human rights and the international laws have to be respected by every single country, without any exception. This is crucial for a political solution in the Middle East, in order to definitely win peace, justice, mutual understanding and cooperation for all the peoples concerned.
The responsible ones for injustice and oppression have to loose much – we have to win the worldwide brotherhood and sisterhood of men.
Yours sincerely
Hermann Dierkes