As Berlin prepares for state elections in less than three weeks, the city’s ‘Die Linke’ party faces a deepening Die Linke controversy surrounding allegations of antisemitism. Critics view the party, particularly its extremist factions, as a dangerous political force in the capital, marked by a strong antisemitic tendency.
A recent event in Berlin’s Neukölln district ignited fresh outrage. This past weekend, a ‘Die Linke’ celebration featured a performance by rapper Dahabflex. His lyrics included inflammatory slogans such as “Yallah Yallah intifada, West Bank, Palestine, Gaza” and calls for “Death to the IDF.”
Party members, reportedly including at least one prominent figure, were observed dancing to the provocative rap. No immediate objections to the lyrics were made. Elif Eralp, ‘Die Linke’s’ main candidate for Governing Mayor, only condemned the appearance after the scandal became public. She expressed dismay, stating, “Calls for violence and for killing people are absolutely unacceptable.”
Eralp added, “I am appalled. Those responsible should have intervened immediately.” Her reaction, however, drew skepticism. Klaus Lederer, a former Berlin Culture Senator and ex-party colleague, previously left ‘Die Linke’ in 2024 following an earlier antisemitism scandal. He described such expressions of surprise as “performative,” suggesting a recurring issue.
Moreover, ‘Die Linke’ in Neukölln had prior warning about the rapper. A year ago, Martina Renner, a former vice chairlady, reportedly alerted colleagues to his antisemitic views. This latest incident, therefore, appears to be part of a persistent problem within the district’s party branch, not an isolated event.
The situation in Neukölln underscores the profound nature of this controversy. Ahmed Abed, a ‘Die Linke’ candidate for district mayor, secured an overwhelming 82 percent of votes at a district assembly in February. His candidacy drew criticism, with current Social Democrat district mayor Martin Hikel accusing Abed of “Jew hatred.”
Previously, Abed reportedly confronted Tzvika Brot, the Mayor of Bat Yam—Neukölln’s Israeli partner city—during a visit last October. Abed allegedly shouted, “You are not welcome here.” Furthermore, Ferat Koçak, a ‘Die Linke’ Bundestag member from Neukölln, attributes Middle East conflicts to Israel. This stance ignores the documented terror attacks by Hamas in October 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
Evidence also includes ‘Die Linke’ Neukölln hosting its “Summer Fest” in August 2025 with invited NGOs known to support Hamas. These repeated instances suggest that some candidates are chosen precisely because of their anti-Israel positions, rather than despite them. The persistent nature of this Die Linke controversy thus raises significant alarms.
Should ‘Die Linke’ form a coalition with the Greens and SPD—a likely outcome—Elif Eralp could become Governing Mayor. This scenario might require her to frequently feign surprise as anti-Jewish sentiment and terror support potentially escalate in Berlin. Additionally, both ‘Die Linke’ and the Greens are challenging a new police law in court, seeking to curtail police powers. This move could further impact Berlin’s overall security apparatus.
Ultimately, ‘Die Linke’ poses a comprehensive threat to Berlin’s security and, specifically, to its Jewish minority. The ongoing issues highlight the dangerous influence of extremism, whether from the political right or left, on the city’s political landscape.
