Central Council of Jews Calls for End to Die Linke's Chances in Berlin

The Central Council of Jews calls for the SPD and The Greens not to govern with Die Linke in Berlin.

The organization urges the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and The Greens not to cooperate with the left after hostile chants against Israel and the presence of a clan leader at an event.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has requested that the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and The Greens do not facilitate a government with Die Linke in Berlin. The request trinc the far-left formation's victory in the elections on **September 21, 2026**, when it received **25.7%** of the votes, and is based on incidents that occurred during the campaign.

## Controversy over chants and a family clan

The main controversy centers on a Die Linke campaign event in **Neukölln**, where the rapper **Dahabflex** chanted slogans such as "Yalla, yalla, Intifada" and "death to the Israeli Army," in front of an audience chanting and waving Palestinian flags. The Central Council of Jews, through its president **Josef Schuster**, has expressed deep concern over these events, describing them as expressions of antisemitism that cross boundaries. Schuster stated that "it deeply concerns me that a party whose electoral stage has openly called for the death of people emerges victorious from the elections."

Adding to this controversy was the presence of **Issa Remmo**, identified as the head of the **Remmo** family clan, at a Die Linke campaign party. Members of this clan have been linked to serious crimes, such as the theft of a one-hundred kilo gold coin from the Bode Museum in Berlin in **2017** and the assault on the Dresdian Green Vault in **2019**. The outgoing mayor, **Kai Wegner**, described this appearance as a "disturbing sign." **Elif Eralp**, a Die Linke candidate, condemned the calls for violence and demanded explanations regarding the organizers' passivity at the Neukölln event, defending Israel's right to exist and rejecting that criticism of Israeli military action in Gaza is synonymous with antisemitism.

## Social and Political Context of Berlin

Berlin is a city with a significant Muslim population, estimated between **300,000 and 420,000** people (between **8%** and **11%** of the population), and a significant Jewish community, with estimates around **50,000** people in **2024** (about **1.3%**). The city also hosts one of the largest Palestinian communities outside the Middle East. This diversity and the direct resonance of the Middle Eastern conflict in local politics are key factors in the discussion. The debate on the boundaries between criticism of Israel and antisemitism has resonated considerably during the election campaign.

The victory of Die Linke, with **25.7%** of the votes, gives it political initiative, but it needs partners to form a government. The SPD received **12.1%** and The Greens received **14.3%**. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came in second with **18.8%**. The Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) failed to exceed the **5%** threshold for entry into the regional parliament.

## Warnings Against Extremism

The warnings from the Central Council of Jews are not limited to the left. After the elections in Saxony-Anhalt on **September 6**, president **Josef Schuster** expressed his pavor at the success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), warning about the consequences of its potential arrival in power. The intervention regarding Berlin adds to his calls against the advance of extremist groups.

In response to the presence of **Issa Remmo**, **Elif Eralp** told RBB-Inforadio that they wanted "absolutely nothing to do with organized crime." She explained that **Remmo** had not been invited and was expelled, and that it was a public event where anyone could attend without an invitation. The Neukölln organization specified that **Remmo** was not on their list of attendees and denied any political or personal connection.
Heidi Reichinnek** reiterated that he was made to leave immediately, noting that they had not cordoned off their election parties with fences.