After accusations of anti-Semitism against the journalist Nemi El-Hassan, the West German Broadcasting Corporation (WDR) decided at the moment not to let the 28-year-old host the science program “Quarks”.

That said WDR director Tom Buhrow on Tuesday in the WDR Broadcasting Council.

In his view, the problem is not so much her participation in an Al-Kuds demonstration seven years ago, as she clearly distanced herself from it.

However, there have also been problematic likes from her in social networks recently.

"It's a difficult, difficult tradeoff," said Buhrow.

Moderation would in any case lead to an inappropriate politicization of the program.

However, one is considering having El-Hassan work as a writer for "Quarks," said Buhrow.

Looking for an acceptable solution

At the annual Al-Kuds demonstrations in Berlin, anti-Semitic slogans were repeatedly shouted and symbols of the pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah movement were shown.

The whole case was started by a report in the "Bild" newspaper: The newspaper had announced that the journalist was at an Al-Kuds demonstration in Berlin several years ago. As a result, El-Hassan distanced himself from the demonstration in 2014. The WDR then announced that it was suspending the planned start of the moderation of El-Hassan on the science program "Quarks" for the time being. Actually, the 28-year-old should have started in November.

Numerous members of the Broadcasting Council spoke up and mostly criticized the fact that El-Hassan should continue to work for the WDR. You cannot have a seat in front of or behind the camera. "We are not allowed to pretend that there are different important areas of responsibility in the WDR," it said in a request to speak. The WDR is doing itself no favor. The problem is less the sins of youth than the statements from the most recent times. One could be critical of Israel, but joy at violence against Israel was under no circumstances to be tolerated.

The Chairman of the Broadcasting Council, Andreas Meyer-Lauber, said: "Anti-Semitic positions cannot and must not have a place in the WDR."

How one then makes a personnel decision in detail is not a matter for the Broadcasting Council.

"We cannot make the decision for you here today," he said to Buhrow.

The basic direction of the requests to speak was however clear.

He wanted a solution that was acceptable to all sides.