Holocaust survivors urge young EU voters to shun far right – DW – 06/04/2024
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A group of eight Holocaust survivors drew parallels between the current political climate and that of Germany in the 1930s. Some of them condemned the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD).

A group of eight Holocaust survivors drew parallels between the current political climate and that of Germany in the 1930s. Some of them condemned the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD).

Eight Holocaust survivors have urged young people to shun far-right parties and vote to protect democracy at the upcoming European Union elections.

“For millions of you, the European elections are the first election in your lives. For many of us, it could be the last,” read the open letter, unveiled in Berlin on Tuesday.

“We couldn’t stop it back then. But you can today,” the eight authors wrote.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
    10·
    6 months ago

    Why exactly would Israelis care what they had to say? Unless the answer is “because they’re Jews and the Holocaust is a Jewish thing,” I can’t think of a reason.

    • footoro@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      6 months ago

      I mean this is still about the EU-elections and not Germany specific. The far right is a huge problem in all of Europe and some of the worst already dictator like fascists like Orban not only seek to actively undermine the EU wherever they can, but they’re also best buddies with Israeli politicians.

      I think it’s important to remember as you said that the holocaust wasn’t only about Jews and that Zionism doesn’t equate Judaism, but to draw a connection between fascists in Europe and fascists in Israel who happen to commit genocide right now doesn’t seem so far fetched in general.

    • nyctre@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      For the same reason young Germans should care. For the same reason everyone should care. Because fascism is bad and everyone should listen to these people and vote against it. Op simply pointed out that there’s a pretty fascistic government in power right now in Israel and hopefully the youth(and everyone else for that matter) will take some inspiration and vote against it.

      At least that’s what I take from that.

        • nyctre@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          6 months ago

          My bad. You’re right. Then yeah, no, they wouldn’t. Cause the message won’t reach the most of them. They would care if they understood that these people are survivors of a different fascist government. They’re what Palestinians might be 80 years from now. It’s history. Except they can learn it from living people instead of books.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
            1·
            6 months ago

            I agree. Also, if I were an Israeli who agreed with the genocide (I’m not and I absolutely don’t) and German Holocaust survivors came to me to tell me that they survived a genocide and they know how bad genocide is and this is a genocide and it needs to stop, I would probably think that this is a different situation and they don’t know because they don’t live here. It’s pretty easy to dismiss something like this if you’re determined to go ahead with an atrocity.

            • nyctre@lemmy.worldEnglish
              2·
              6 months ago

              Of course. But the more people(and different people too, not just journalists and politicians) tell them, the more likely it is for the message to finally go through

    • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      Oh there’s a simple reason why Israelis should care: Because sliding into fascism is a calamity for everyone, yes, also for the perpetrating people. Maybe that’s what all this is about, they want to understand that through personal experience. Ride the death drive for a while.

    • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.netEnglish
      32·
      6 months ago

      My thinking was in the lines why they are doing in Germany too. They say look what the fashists did, never again! Same message would make sense in today’s Israel too.