Speaking against Erasure: The Denial of Israeli Atrocities in Germany

Abstract This article critically examines the portrayal of Arabs, particularly Palestinians, in German media and public discourse. It highlights the complicity of German media and the failure of Middle East studies in Germany to take a critical position amidst Israel’s genocide in Gaza. It discusses how Germany’s pro-Israeli policies and public positioning lead to the direct exclusion of Arabs and their histories and experiences from society. The article reflects on my own experience as an Arab-German, having grown up as a refugee from Israeli occupation of south Lebanon. It discusses the “toleration” ( Duldung ) status imposed on many Palestinians and Lebanese who arrived in Germany in the 1980s, exacerbating their marginalization. It addresses how Germany’s criminalization of protests and support for Israel’s crimes deepens Arab alienation. It furthermore reflects on my role as a scholar working on the Middle East and the moral obligation to speak out despite the lack of institutional support.