Left Party Berlin-Neukölln: Nele wants a Jahia-Sinwar Street

At the end of October in Berlin, the time has finally come: the Left, the Greens and the SPD have agreed to start coalition negotiations. There was great euphoria at the meeting of the Neukölln district association of the Left Party.

Nele, 23, a master's student in intersectionality at the FU Berlin, speaks up: "We have to make a grassroots point. How about we rename Schlesische Straße over in Kreuzberg to "Jahia-Sinwar-Straße"? As a show of respect for the Palestinian martyr!”

Universal approval and cries of “Whoohoo!” “With this,” Nele continues, we kill two birds with one stone. Because what are these historical revisionist street names actually supposed to do? Silesia has long been Polish!”

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Lulu, 21, a computer science student, has read up on the state laws since winning the election and has objections: "A Berlin law stipulates that when renaming streets, preference must be given to people reading female. And Sinwar is, therefore, read male, right?" Thoughtful nods from the others.

“Watermelons!” shouts Paul, 20, a student teacher. "We are writing in the school law that watermelons must be a mandatory dessert in after-school care centers and daycare centers. Watermelons as a sign of solidarity with Palestine!" Lulu, doubtful: "Isn't that too extreme? Is it for the Jewish students?"

“No,” Paul says firmly. "Education goes beyond teaching. If the young Jews don't want the melons, they just give them to the person sitting next to them. And the parents certainly have the money for a Hanuta."

Uli, in his late fifties, PDS veteran and strategic warhorse, also wants to say something: "We are accommodating the Greens and writing that the melons can only be organic. And at the same time we are issuing a press release that the protection of Jewish life is always our top priority." Nele nudges him lightly on the shoulder. “Man Uli, you may be an old mansplainer, but the bio thing is really clever!”

Lulu clears her throat. “Comrades, we need to talk about finances.” Annoyed groans from everyone around. “The 20 billion euros that the socialization of the housing companies is likely to cost must come from somewhere, and you know the financial situation in Berlin,” she says, looking up from her laptop. “You know that we want to pay for the expropriations from the current rents,” says Paul angrily. “But that won’t be enough, we want to lower the rents,” is Lulu’s dry answer.

"We're somehow not getting anywhere here," says Nele. "I wanted to say something about Ferat Koçak," another comrade suddenly pipes up. "No, that's it for today," says Uli, who still has the authoritarian conversation style from his PDS days.

All comrades place their Club Mate bottles in the drinks crate. Nele pulls her keffijah tighter around her neck when she goes out because it has become noticeably colder in Berlin.