ÖVP ministers Susanne Raab and Karl Nehammer sharply criticized the anti-Israel demonstration in Vienna on Wednesday afternoon. “We have zero tolerance for calls for violence against Israel and anti-Semitic statements! There is no place for this in Austria and it is our task for society as a whole and our historical responsibility to fight against it with all our might ”, emphasized the Minister of Integration. Interior Minister Nehammer announced that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has started an investigation and that Jewish institutions are now being monitored more closely.
According to Raab, the right to demonstrate is a “high democratic good in Austria”. But if conflicts from abroad are carried out here, “it is a danger to our peaceful coexistence”.
“Danger to our democracy”
Nehammer sees a “danger to our democracy” if the basic right to assembly is abused by anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic slogans.
Sobotka: “In no way to approve”
“Zero tolerance” were also the catchphrases in a broadcast by National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) late on Thursday evening. “People of the Jewish faith in our country cannot and must not be held responsible for the events in the Middle East,” he said. “It is in no way to be approved if the conflict is transferred from Israel to Austria – as with the demonstration in Vienna.” Some protesters were apparently concerned with the demonstration, which was clearly anti-Semitic. “There can be zero tolerance for any form of anti-Semitism in our country,” emphasized Sobotka.
The organizers of the demo on Wednesday included “organizations known for their anti-Semitism” – BDS movement, anti-imperialist coordination and Dar-al-Janub – reported the Austrian Jewish students (JöH).
“Allahu Akbar “calls
At the rally on Mariahilfer Strasse there were “massive anti-Semitic chants”. The participants chanted slogans such as “Allahu Akbar”, “Freedom for Palestine” or “Child murderer Israel” and waved Palestine flags.
Hamas flags or anti-Semitic banners with Holocaust relativizations were also carried and openly called for the Intifada. Children were also present at the rally.
Israel-Palestine conflict claims more and more victims
The background to the demonstration is the currently escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The violence is increasing and killing more and more people. Hamas, classified by the EU as a terrorist organization, has fired more than 1,600 rockets at Israel so far. So far, six civilians and one soldier have died on the Israeli side, 67 people have died and hundreds have been injured on the Palestinian side.