German Centrists Are Smearing Die Linke as Antisemites

Let’s be clear: Die Linke, Germany’s leading left-wing force, which resoundingly won Sunday’s elections in Berlin, is not an antisemitic party. It does not have an “antisemitism problem,” nor is it a menace to Jews in Germany or Berlin. While some Jews in the city perceive the Left as a threat, this perception is fueled by a false media narrative lacking a factual basis.

That Die Linke is not a hotbed of antisemitism is obvious to anyone taking an honest look at the party: its leaders, its campaign methods, and the deep, sometimes overcharged embrace of Germany’s anti-antisemitism discourse which governs its rhetoric. Die Linke is committed to protecting Jewish life alongside a broader anti-racist vision. In this respect, it differs from mainstream German approaches to Jewish protection, which often treat the safety of Jews and the freedom of others as a zero-sum game.

Die Linke has a large membership that is passionate about Palestinian solidarity and harshly critical of Israeli war crimes. Occasionally, activists express these views in ways unbefitting a democratic left-wing party, by making statements or using symbols that are seen as supporting armed resistance. This is an issue, and it’s at odds with the party’s democratically adopted resolutions on Israel and Palestine. A party must maintain a political line at its events and among its members. At the same time, these infractions do not reflect an antisemitic culture within the party.

Are there antisemites in Die Linke’s midst? Certainly. Antisemitism exists across all segments of German society — native and migrant, young and old, Christian, Muslim, atheist, and even Jewish. There are also instances where anti-Israel positions escalate into antisemitism. Yet this is neither a structural nor an ideological problem. Polling suggests that antisemitic beliefs are actually more prevalent among voters of other parties. This is because left-wing politics, done right, combats all forms of discrimination and racism, including antisemitism.

Why, then, was Die Linke Berlin attacked as antisemitic by rivals on both the Left and Right during this campaign? Because it was winning, and because smearing an entire organization based on the actions of a low-level member is the oldest trick in the book. This framing has a clear playbook, one frequently weaponized against socialist movements throughout history. It is also the exact tactic the Israeli right uses to delegitimize the Israeli radical left and Palestinian citizens of Israel.

These attacks obviously failed. The Berlin public did not buy the narrative that Die Linke mayoral candidate Elif Eralp’s campaign was a smokescreen for Hamas. She won decisively on her agenda of affordability and political hope. This mirrors Zohran Mamdani’s campaign in New York City, where he was constantly questioned about Israel and Palestine despite focusing on bread-and-butter issues. In both cases, the media echo chamber’s insistence on centering foreign policy and antisemitism failed. Voters saw through the ploy. Depicting Eralp as a menace to Jews was particularly absurd, given her moderate positions on Israel-Palestine and her history of involvement in anti-antisemitism campaigns.

However, these attacks were never meant to influence popular opinion. They were staged for this exact moment, after Die Linke had already won. The true goal was to make other progressive parties — the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens — hesitant to govern together with a party accused of antisemitism by mainstream German media and conservative Jewish institutions. The campaign targets Berlin’s political class to keep the Left out of power. This is done in the service of the real estate lobby, which objects to Die Linke’s signature policy of socializing Berlin’s apartment blocks.

Hopefully, Die Linke’s democratic mandate is strong enough to make its role in government unquestionable. Nevertheless, attacks will likely continue throughout coalition negotiations and a future term in government. In these crucial moments, it is vital to avoid missteps.

Once in power, it is critical that Die Linke put its values into action, ensuring Berlin remains a city that welcomes all communities and celebrates its diversity, including its disagreements. This requires genuine outreach to the Jewish community, which has been persuaded by national forces that it is at risk. Regardless of how unfounded these concerns may be, Die Linke has a responsibility to address them seriously, challenge false narratives where necessary, and truly make Berlin a city for all.