Israel’s embassy in Berlin submitted an urgent formal diplomatic request today (Thursday) to the leadership of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, demanding an immediate halt to all public funding and contracts with ‘Palestinian’ pastor Mitri Raheb.
2+Raheb, who serves as president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, sparked international outrage after openly supporting and praising the October 7 massacre in which more than 1,200 people were murdered, including German citizens. In a statement provided to Channel 14, the embassy made clear it views the pastor’s statements and publications with utmost severity. On the day of the massacre itself, Raheb used social media to glorify the terrorist atrocities, writing that “‘Palestinians’ continue to demonstrate new forms of creative resistance.” Days later he continued justifying the mass attacks, claiming “the occupation will continue to provoke resistance” and calling for “decolonization.”
2+Despite the shocking statements and open support for terrorism, the local coalition government in Germany—composed of the Green Party and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)—has continued to maintain close cooperation and fund organizations linked to Raheb, completely ignoring the criticism. The Israeli demand has won broad support from Jewish and Christian Zionist organizations worldwide, which have sharply criticized German authorities. John Hagee, president of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), made clear that any body funding Raheb’s Jew-hatred becomes an accomplice to crime, noting this represents a moral stain for Germany.
2+Meanwhile, the Simon Wiesenthal Center also called on local government officials to wake up, stop turning a blind eye to the slush funds, and act immediately against the displays of Jew-hatred and support for Hamas occurring in their territory. The embassy’s request joins growing criticism of the tolerance shown by some senior officials in Baden-Württemberg toward extremist organizations operating in the state. Among other issues under fire are local representatives who enable the activity of pro-Hamas groups and even maintain sister-city relationships with the terror regime in Tehran. Holocaust survivors and members of the Jewish community in Germany are demanding authorities take a firm and uncompromising line, immediately cease channeling funds to those justifying the massacre of Jews, and demonstrate moral integrity.