Joint meeting in Hanover: Jews and Palestinians for peace!

Joint meeting in Hanover: Jews and Palestinians for peace!

Today, August 13, 2025, members of the Palestinian and Jewish communities in Lower Saxony met in Hanover for a meaningful exchange. The event, which focuses on improving contact between communities, was attended for the first time by Prime Minister Olaf Lies (SPD). This cannot be taken for granted and could be a ray of hope for intercultural dialogue in a tense time. Loud ndr.de In addition to Lies, prominent representatives such as Michael Fürst, President of the State Association of the Jewish Community in Hanover, and Yazid Shammout, Chairman of the Palestinian Community in the city, also took part in this meeting.

The topics that were on the agenda were not insignificant. The focus was on the difficult situation of children in the Gaza Strip, a controversial topic that is often discussed in public. The meeting was therefore also a reaction to the current events in the region, which make exchange and understanding between different communities urgently necessary.

Joint action for a better future

Another concern of the event was the containment of anti-Israel actions in schools and universities. Such efforts are particularly important in order to promote respectful coexistence in the next generation. In his remarks, Lower Saxony's state representative against anti-Semitism, Gerhard Wegner, emphasized the need to effectively combat anti-Semitism. The state representative for migration and participation, Deniz Kurku, was also there to advocate for common interests.

A joint statement from the participants is planned for the evening, which will summarize the results and positions of the meeting and communicate them to the public. In this context, SPD spokesman Adis Ahmetovic made it clear that an airlift to support those affected in Gaza would be “inefficient”. Finally, the Lower Saxony state government will support an initiative to accept around 20 Palestinian and Israeli children from Israel and Gaza in order to help these children with medical or psychological needs. This is a concrete response to the new Hanover Appeal, which promotes interreligious and intercultural action.

Commitment to diversity and tolerance

The meeting in Hanover is part of a series of initiatives intended to bring the Jewish and Palestinian communities closer together. In particular, projects to prevent anti-Semitism, such as the one with the Lower Saxony Adult Education (ANNE), aim to raise society's awareness of how to deal critically with anti-Semitism lvjgnds.de reported.

In addition, the achievements of Düzen Tekkal and Heinrich Detering, who are strongly committed to the well-being of the Jewish community, were recently recognized. Another highlight: On June 20, 2025, a summer festival was celebrated in Lower Saxony that promoted dialogue for democratic and diverse coexistence. This trend shows that efforts to ensure respectful coexistence in society go far beyond religious and cultural boundaries.

Finally, we must be aware of the fact that anti-Semitism has different roots. How wochenschau-verlag.de explains, there is not only historical anti-Semitism, but also modern manifestations that are still present in our society. It is important that we all take a critical look at this in order to reduce prejudices and enable harmonious coexistence.

At a time when tensions and conflicts are often at the forefront, a meeting like the one in Hanover is not only worth supporting, but necessary. The willingness to work together for a better coexistence can make a significant difference.