The Left rejects Accusations of Anti-Semitism

On May 21, 2011, The Left Party Presidium passed with no dissenting votes the following
declaration:

One of the fundamental positions of The Left Party is to take action against every form of anti-
Semitism in the society. There is no room for rightwing extremism and anti-Semitism in our party,
today or at anytime. As the Feb. 19, 2011 demonstration in Dresden showed, The Left and its
partners are resolutely opposing anti-Semitic ideas and rightwing extremist actions.

The Left parts from the standpoint "that, because of the horrible crimes committed by the Germans
against the Jews in the course of National Socialism, Germany has a particular responsibility toward
Israel and to oppose every form of anti-Semitism, racism, oppression and war. This responsibility
cannot be relativized. It includes efforts for a Palestinian state and the guarantee of Israel's right of
existence. We consider that we have a dual responsibility and are in solidarity with the people in
Israel and in Palestine. Partisanship in this conflict will not contribute to its solution. (...)" (Excerpt of
the resolution passed by The Left Group in the German Parliament on April 20, 2011.)

US President Obama's proposal also leads in the direction of a Palestinian nation within the borders
of 1967. The Left calls for a renunciation of violence in this process.

The Left wants to prohibit weapons exports to the Middle East. In light of our specific history, we
consider calls for a boycott of Israeli goods in Germany an inappropriate means for confronting Israeli
government policy, and will therefore not participate. We reject the deformation of justifiable
criticism of Israeli government policy as anti-Semitism, just as we reject the accusation of an alleged
development of anti-Semitic positions within The Left.

Source: http://www.die-
linke.de/partei/organe/parteivorstand/parteivorstand20102012/beschluesse/linkeweistantisemitism
usvorwuerfezurueck/ (www.bds-kampagne.de / Translation George Pumphrey)