A German photo exhibit critical of Israel’s West Bank security fence will be shown on part of the former Berlin Wall. The Jewish Community of Berlin and the Coordinating Council of German Non-Governmental Organizations Against Anti-Semitism are trying to derail the planned exhibit. They sent a letter of protest to Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, calling on him to override the local district council of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and prevent the exhibition by Kai Wiedenhoefer.
The artist has published several books, including “Wall” and “Perfect Peace: The Palestinians from Intifada to Intifada.” Wiedenhoefer’s comparison of Israel’s West Bank fence with the Berlin Wall is not only false, but anti-Semitic, says the letter, sent April 30 and released to the public Tuesday. “Israel’s anti-terrorism barrier helps block terrorists; the Berlin Wall on the other hand was intended to prevent citizens of the GDR (East Germany) from leaving the country. More apt comparisons — such as with barriers erected to bar illegal immigrants from the Spanish cities of Ceuta ad Melilla in Morocco — are obviously not of interest to the photographer,” the letter said.
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