Palestinian & Israeli winners at Berlinale urge Germany to 'stop sending weapons to Israel'

When 'No Other Land' - a film about the displacement of Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta region in the occupied West Bank - won the documentary film award at the Berlinale last weekend, its Palestinian director, Basel Adra, used his acceptance speech to not only highlight the Israeli forces' relentless and genocidal war on Gaza but also urged Germany to stop sending weapons to Israel.

Adra's co-director, Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, also spoke of a system of “apartheid” in the occupied West Bank and called for a ceasefire and end to Israel's occupation of Palestine.

While the audience applauded the duo's speeches at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, Europe’s first major film festival of the year and better known as the Berlinale, outside Potsdamer Platz the backlash from German authorities was rife.

“Berlin has a clear stance when it comes to defending freedom," Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner told rbb. "This also means that Berlin is firmly on Israel’s side…I expect measures from the new Berlinale festival management."

Israel’s Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor posted a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he criticized Germany’s cultural scene: “At the Berlinale, antisemitic and anti-Israel statements were greeted with thunderous applause."

Meanwhile, Green Party politician Daniela Billig said: “I perceived this as an emotional and moral low point" and a cultural policy spokesperson from her person warned there could be "political damage to the Berlinale", adding that "the cultural scene has done itself a disservice".

#germany #berlinale #deutschland #masaferyatta #westbank #freepalestine #palestine #filmfestival #filmawards #berlin #gaza #gaza_strip

[allaruond]

It's a joke when Germany says antisemitic

[silveriorebelo]

it's not only weapons - Germany, the US and France finance Israel without limits...

[AffectionateArcticFox-vugs]

Two gentlemen with dignity and full of hopes for their people May we have more of these people in this crazy world

[DCwolverine]

They dare to speak....congratulations to these two honorable men of humanity and dignity

[FA-msjc]

All we ask for is

DIGNITY & EQUALITY



Kudos to these Men.

[Alex-edvj]

Wow! Brave young men! Especially the Israeli guy who has the courage to speak against his own government.

[ruthgallagher]

Thank you for giving me hope for mankind

[thebandit]

On German Tv they say that was "Antisemitic" 🤮
#ShameOnGermany

[joehill]

The backlash from racist German politicians. Free Palestine and let the people live together in peace.

[iamnot]

Love and RESPECT to the very BRAVE, COURAGEOUS people of Palestine

[AKhan-dxps]

You have done a wonderful humanitarian plea in support of Palestine - may it is listened to 🤲. Thank you for remembering and having them in your thoughts on this your special occasion 🙏.

[aliulas]

Germany say in his news about this truth speaking ANTISEMITIC……
SHAMEONYOUGERMANY

[CasaWowa]

German Media and Politican cry very hard because you stand for Humanity 😢

[TheServantofALLAH]

Words of that israeli man is right from his heart . We all love our Jewish brothers who stand for humanity and equality. May Allah swt bless them

[yanina]

Take care. Media and politics try to flip our Morales upside down when they Talk about this speach as a scandal

[greenpea]

This is awesome God bless you both because you stand for your fellow human being and for peace

[fokana]

Media blackout strong on anything showing the truth

[fareedamartinez]

Wonderful...showing solidarity toward each other...says a lot...let's hope those in power can learn from this

[a_leaf]

The fact that this is not in the news or shown in popular media here in America is sad and disappointing.
These two men and the country of Germany are doing very much good for humanity and are excellent examples of leadership for US to learn from.
Sending lots of love ❤ from 🇺🇸

[NauticaloneEd]

Very brave, both of them. I’m heartbroken to know that even today there remains so much atrocities in our world. And I’m ashamed that my country “Britain” (the British government that is) still doesn’t stand more firmly for human rights for all! ❤️