While tensions mound between Iran-Israel, Berlin authorities halt Pro-Palestine event over security concerns

Berlin, Apr 13: Berlin police intervened to halt a pro-Palestine conference shortly after its commencement, citing the presence of a speaker banned from political activity. The police also imposed a ban on the event for the remainder of the weekend, according to an Al Jazeera report.

 

 

 

 

The police stated on social media that the decision to stop the conference, called the "Palestine Congress," was based on the risk of inviting a speaker with a history of making anti-Semitic or violence-glorifying statements. The police also mentioned a temporary halt to the event's live stream by shutting off the power due to legal concerns about speeches.

 

 

 

The event organizers accused Germany of supporting Israeli military actions in Gaza and condemned the conflict as genocide. Berlin police deployed 930 officers, including reinforcements from other regions, to secure the event.

 

 

 

 

 

According to a report from DW News, German governments have approved nearly 3.3 billion Euros (USD 3.6 billion) in arms export licenses to Israel from 2003 to 2023. This includes major weapons such as submarines. Forensis, a Berlin-based nonprofit, provided data indicating that Germany is Israel's second-largest supplier of arms, after the United States, over the past five years.

 

 

 

 

The report highlighted a lack of transparency in German arms exports to Israel, with details on the actual value and types of weapons often redacted to protect trade secrets. In 2023, approved arms export licenses to Israel surged significantly compared to previous years.

 

 

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