A German court ruled on Tuesday that a protester who shouted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” at a rally in Berlin in October had condoned criminal acts — the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel — and gave her a fine of 600 euros, about $650.
The slogan, which has radically different interpretations, was later banned in Germany, viewed as basically constituting a call for the elimination of Israel.
The court case had been seen as a test of that law.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has underlined the delicate balance in Germany between freedom of expression and the country’s relationship with Israel.
One of the foundations of Germany since the Holocaust is support for Israel, a principle known as a Staatsräson, or “state reason.” Since Oct. 7, activism in Germany has been roiled by that tension, with cancellations, bans and fierce debates about what can and can’t be said about Israel and the war.
Persons:
Israel —, Birgit Balzer, “, can’t
Organizations:
Israel
Locations:
Palestine, Berlin, Germany, Tiergarten, Israel