Overview

• CDU leader Dirk Stettner is urging the Berlin Senate to expedite the appointment of a Senate-level antisemitism commissioner for all universities in the city.
• The proposed commissioner would oversee a unified approach to combating antisemitism and ensure consistent definitions and policies across institutions.
• The call follows ongoing pro-Palestinian protests and a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents at Berlin universities since October 2023.
• Recent incidents include the police removal of protesters from a Humboldt University lecture hall where banners denied Israel's right to exist and caused property damage.
• Stettner emphasizes the need for a Berlin-wide framework to distinguish between academic discourse, free speech, and antisemitism, addressing criticism over inconsistent university responses.