In his opening speech in parliament, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (VP) called for unconditional solidarity with Israel and criticized the EU for not sufficiently condemning the terrorist organization Hamas in the Middle East conflict.
Sobotka said that in the 1920s and 1930s, German “racial doctrine” led to the persecution of Jews; today it is “postmodernism” “where Israel is denounced as an apartheid state” that leads to attacks on the Jewish community. “The right-wing extremist grimace” has been known for a long time; the attack on Israel by the radical Islamist Hamas led to open anti-Semitism on the left.
Conversation with people who think differently
Almost every seat in the Federal Assembly Hall was occupied. In addition to Sobotka’s deputy Norbert Hofer (FP) and deputy Doris Bures (SP), members of the National Council, Federal Councilors and, with a few exceptions, the ministerial team also took part. However, the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and Federal President were not present.
Many representatives of the Jewish community were present, such as the President of the Jewish Community, Oskar Deutsch, and the President of the European Jewish Congress, Ariel Muzicant.
The director of the Mauthausen Memorial, Barbara Glück, spoke regarding the challenges of commemoration. A visit to the memorial alone is not enough; preparation and follow-up by teachers is always necessary. “Our work alone is not enough,” said Glück. We waited too long to see who was coming. “But we have to talk to those who might not agree with us.”
