German Chancellor Olaf Scholz renewed his support for Israel a few days ago in Tel Aviv (Reuters)
Activists protested against German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and boycotted him yesterday, Wednesday, while he was giving a speech at the opening of the Leipzig International Book Fair, because of his support for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip.
As soon as Schulz began his speech at the second largest book fair in Germany after Frankfurt, loud screaming was heard in the place.
The Leipziger Volkszeitung newspaper said the protesters appeared to be pro-Palestinian activists, and someone could be heard chanting, "It's not a humanitarian disaster, it's genocide."
Schulz stopped his speech to address the protesters by saying, "Stop screaming, that's enough," before adding, "The power of the word brings us all together here in Leipzig, not the power of screaming."
Later, a man was heard calling on the public to protest against sending arms shipments to Israel.
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In his opening remarks, Schulz emphasized the value of literature in helping readers understand different points of view.
"With every chapter of a book, with every new page, we can overcome differences that sometimes seem irreconcilable in everyday life," he said.
Last Sunday, the German Chancellor renewed his support for Israel, saying during his visit to Tel Aviv that “Israel has the right to defend itself against the terrorism” of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Pro-Palestinian protests have spread in Germany and a number of countries since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Berlin's strong support for Israel led to demonstrations protesting what was seen as the marginalization of pro-Palestinian voices.
The "Strike Germany" group called on those working in creative fields to boycott cultural institutions in the country, and a petition collected hundreds of signatures, one of which was by Nobel Prize-winning writer Annie Ernault.
Source: Agencies