Germany's Die Linke under pressure over alleged antisemitism row

Pressure mounted Wednesday from potential coalition partners on Germany's far-left Die Linke party, which won last week's elections to Berlin's city assembly, over allegedly tolerating antisemitism.

Die Linke has previously faced such accusations and on Sunday a fresh controversy erupted over the presence of two controversial figures at the party's victory celebrations.

One of its MPs, Ferat Kocak, was pictured with Ibrahim Ibrahim, described by German media as a supporter of armed Palestinian militants.

Also spotted was Issa Remmo, the head of the "Remmo clan", an extended family often accused of a web of ties to organised crime and linked to a spectacular jewellery heist.

Die Linke has said the celebration was a public event and that the two were asked to leave once they were seen.

The party's lead candidate Elif Eralp has reiterated her opposition to antisemitism and said that "celebrating violence and terrorism is absolutely unacceptable".

Nevertheless, Die Linke faced a chorus of criticism Wednesday, including from the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens, whose support they would need to form a state government in Berlin.

Die Linke must "not allow a millimetre of space for antisemitism, nor for criminal clans," the SPD's leadership said in a statement.

Green MP Andreas Audretsch said Die Linke's explanations were unconvincing.

"Issa Remmo is a central figure in organised crime. You don't just bump into him at events," he said.

Die Linke MP Kocak was also revealed to have been in touch with Issa Remmo's son Firas and has announced he will "take a step back" from public events.

Veteran Die Linke MP Gregor Gysi said in a parliamentary debate that "obviously... Kocak made a mistake; we are investigating that".

But he also accused the party's opponents of "instrumentalising antisemitism and using it to stir up hatred against the left".

Germany is among Israel's strongest supporters in Europe, with backing for Israel deeply embedded across much of the political establishment.

The CDU, SPD and Greens have all defended close ties and military support for Israel, frequently invoking Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust and its commitment to Israel's security as a Staatsrason, or reason of state.

This approach has also narrowed political space for pro-Palestinian activism and criticism of Israel, particularly during its genocidal war on Gaza.