The hard-left former Greek Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis, will no longer be allowed into Germany after planning to attend a controversial “Palestine Congress” event in Berlin.
According to brusselssignal.eu, Germany’s interior ministry issued a “Betätigungsverbot“, or ban, against Varoufakis because he was set to speak at the Congress, which started on April 12 and was due to run to April 14.
German authorities labelled the gathering which was organised by the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25) – a pan-European political movement and political party founded in 2016 by Varoufakis and others – as “anti-Semitic”, banning others alongside Varoufakis who were set to take part.
Varoufakis hit back after the ban was enforced, exclaiming that he and the group were simply trying to not give further power to anti-semitism.
“You accuse us of anti-Semitic hatred. We accuse you of being the anti-Semite’s best friend by equating the right of Israel to commit war crimes with the right of Israeli Jews to defend themselves,” Varoufakis said.
“You accuse us of trivialising Hamas’ October 7 terror [attacks on Israel]. We accuse you of trivialising the 80 years of Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the erection of an ironclad Apartheid system across Israel-Palestine,” Varoufakis added.
“The Israeli State is stoking the fires of anti-Semitism and strengthening Palestinians and Israelis who just want to annihilate each other.”
Shortly after the Palestine Congress began on April 12, Berlin police unexpectedly halted it, and officials extended the prohibition to April 13 and 14, the intended finish dates of the gathering; approximately 250 people were forced to leave the meeting early.
On the evening of April 14, protesters attacked police and eight demonstrators were arrested.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser praised the police action in halting the event, stating that it was “necessary” for the Berlin police to “crack down” on the so-called “Palestine Congress”.
“We do not tolerate Islamist propaganda or hatred against Jews,” Nancy Faeser said.
Germany’s Interior Ministry has banned Varoufakis also from carrying out any political activity across the country.
Source: brusselssignal.eu
