Bundestag Vice President Aydan Özoguz is caught in the crossfire because of a social media post about the Gaza war. So much so that the Bundestag Council of Elders is meeting about it.
The Bundestag’s Council of Elders discussed possible consequences following a criticized social media post by Bundestag Vice President Aydan Özoguz. This was reported by the German Press Agency, citing parliamentary and participant circles. The SPD politician shared a post about the Gaza war on her Instagram account. The Union then accused her of making anti-Israel statements and called for an immediate meeting of the committee.
According to information from participants, a discussion took place at the meeting on Friday afternoon. Özoguz apologized there again. The representatives of the traffic light parties would have accepted this. The Union took note of the words and stuck to its demand for resignation. “We don’t want to be represented by such a vice president,” the parliamentary director of the CDU/CSU, Thorsten Frei, had previously said. According to participants at the meeting, no intention to resign was apparent.
Post shared by pro-Palestinian peace organization
As Vice President, Özoguz is a member of the Council of Elders alongside the other deputies and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD). It also includes other experienced MPs.
According to her office, the SPD politician shared a post from “Jewish Voice for Peace” as an Instagram story on Wednesday. Such stories delete themselves after 24 hours and the process can no longer be traced on your account. The organization says it is committed to “Palestinian liberation and Judaism beyond Zionism.” Screenshots were circulating on Platform X, the authenticity of which could not initially be verified. In one photo you can see burning objects with the words: “This is Zionism” written above them.
The Zionist movement emerged in the 19th century with the aim of creating a Jewish nation state – Israel was founded in 1948.
Aydan Özoguz: Doesn’t want to support a radical group
“I realized that the shared post hurt the feelings of fellow citizens who stand for peaceful coexistence,” Özoguz said. “That was not my intention and I deeply regret it.”
Her office emphasized that since the brutal attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the politician has clearly committed herself to Israel’s right to self-defense. “At the same time, she sees an ever-escalating spiral of violence with tens of thousands of civilian victims, including many women and children.” Her aim is to draw attention to the civilian suffering on both sides. “It is not their intention to support radical groups on any side.”
The German-Israeli Society (DIG) called for the SPD politician to resign from the position of Bundestag Vice President, as DIG President Volker Beck told Bild. “By sharing, Ms. Özoguz crossed a red line.”
Source: Stern
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