Janis Ehling, the national leader of the Left, sharply rebuked the anti‑Zionist resolution adopted by his party’s Lower Saxony branch. He described the decision as “piddling” and factually incorrect. While he acknowledges the need to distance the party from a “right‑wing Zionism” especially with regard to the current Israeli government, Ehling cautions that a blanket rejection of Zionism is too extreme.
Ehling also denied accusations that the Left suffers from a fundamental antisemitism problem, although he admits a “one‑sidedness” exists in some factions. “This example clearly shows that we have a big problem with one‑sidedness” he said. He notes that many new, particularly young, members have been politicised by the Gaza war and that their perceptions are largely shaped through social media.
During the party’s internal debate over remarks made by former Chair Gregor Gysi, Ehling rejected the claim that antisemitism within the Left is mainly carried by migrant members. “Those statements are simply not correct” he said. When questioned about whether Gysi needed anti‑racist training, Ehling suggested instead a dialogue: “I think it would be beneficial for Gregor Gysi to sit down with migrant comrades and just exchange different perspectives”.