The conflict in Gaza has caused a split in the Fridays for Future climate movement, with some activists distancing themselves from the pro-Palestinian stance of its leader, Greta Thunberg.
In her weekly “school strikes”, Ms Thunberg stresses the importance of the Palestinian cause, holding placards reading “justice for Palestine” and “stand with Gaza”, although in response she explained that she opposes Hamas’ “horrific attacks” on Israel.
At the same time, the German and Austrian sections of Fridays for Future made public statements denying the global movement’s comments and opposing anti-Semitism caused by the war: “Israel’s right to exist is not negotiable,” activists in Germany said.
Anti-Semitism is finding a place in Germany in school playgrounds and on the streets, said Luisa Neubauer, a prominent climate activist.
The rise of war-related anti-Semitism is a particularly sensitive topic in Germany because of national guilt over the Holocaust.
The organization Fridays for Future in Sweden condemned what Thunberg said as “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians” and violence by both Israel and Hamas. The Swedish branch noted it also distanced itself from “all forms of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia regardless of where and by whom it is expressed”.
The global Fridays for the Future movement last week backed calls for a general strike in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, stressing the Western media “brainwashed” people into supporting Israel.
