ZGram - 3/31/2002 - "Apologize!"

[irimland@zundelsite.org]

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

May 31, 2002

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

It seems that the mentally captives are finally rattling the cage! 

One of Germany's most controversial politicians, affectionally 
nicknamed "M=F6llem=E4nnchen", refuses to apologize - gasp!  Horror of 
all horrors! - for a remark deemed "anti-semitic" - and his party, 
adding insult to injury, seems to even back him up! 

Is there hope yet left for  the Vaterland?

[START]

=46DP Refuses to Demand Apology From M=F6llemann

=46.A.Z. BERLIN. The Free Democratic Party's executive committee on 
=46riday disassociated itself for the first time from allegedly 
anti-Semitic remarks made by the party's deputy chairman, but stopped 
short of demanding that he apologize.

An apology by J=FCrgen M=F6llemann had been set out by the Central 
Council of Jews in Germany as a precondition for resuming regular 
contacts with the pro-market FDP.

The council's president, Paul Spiegel, said he was "disappointed and 
horrified" about the executive committee's decision, adding that it 
would now be impossible to hold conciliatory talks with the party.

Mr. M=F6llemann, who also heads the FDP branch in North 
Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, attended the 
closed-door emergency meeting of the committee. He assented in the 
unanimous adoption of the "Berlin Declaration," in which he was 
chastised for "a poor choice of words" in comments seen by Jewish 
leaders in Germany as anti-Semitic.

The comments were made last week as Mr. M=F6llemann angrily responded 
to allegations of anti-Semitism levied by the Central Council of Jews 
in Germany's vice president, Michel Friedman, over his decision to 
welcome the Syrian-born Jamal Karsli into the North Rhine-Westphalia 
=46DP.
Mr. Karsli, a member of the state parliament who formerly was a 
member of Alliance 90/The Greens, had accused the Israeli Army of 
"Nazi methods" and complained of a "Zionist lobby" in the news media.

Reacting to the remarks by Mr. Friedman, an outspoken political 
talk-show host, Mr. M=F6llemann said, "Hardly anyone makes the 
anti-Semites, who unfortunately do exist in Germany, more popular 
than Mr. (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon and, in Germany, 
=46riedman."

The council said the remarks suggested that it was acceptable to hold 
anti-Semitic beliefs out of dislike for an individual Jew, and on 
Wednesday Mr. M=F6llemann said in an open letter to Mr. Spiegel that he 
had misspoken out of anger.

But while admitting that he "shouldn't have put things that way," Mr. 
M=F6llemann refused to apologize.

In its declaration, the FDP executive committee cited the party's 
traditional values of open-mindedness, tolerance and freedom, adding 
that "respect and tact in dealing with others" are FDP principles.

The declaration also insists that the FDP does "not conduct election 
campaigns at minorities' expense," a response to allegations that Mr. 
M=F6llemann, the president of the German-Arab Society, has been 
prepared to flirt with anti-Semitism in an attempt to attract Muslim 
and right-wing voters before the Sept. 22 national election.

=46DP Chairman Guido Westerwelle, who has also been criticized for 
statements that his party would like to win over supporters from the 
extremist parties, noted that the party declaration described as 
"defamatory and unjustified" accusations that any FDP leaders are 
guilty of anti-Semitism.

Those attempting to discredit Mr. M=F6llemann by defaming him with 
charges of anti-Semitism are "playing a shabby and transparent game," 
Mr. Westerwelle said.

May 31, 2002
=46rankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

[END]

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

Thought for the Day:

"There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn."

(Albert Camus)