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Burning the Israeli Flag Has Nothing to Do with Freedom of Speech
(Deutsche Welle-Germany) Ines Pohl - Palestinians in Germany are free to protest in front of the U.S. embassy in Berlin to vent their anger over plans to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. But our history does not oblige us to be tolerant of anything and everything. Germany is responsible for the murder of at least 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. And no matter how much time has passed since, Germany will always have a unique obligation to fight anti-Semitism. A country that has committed such a crime must not turn a blind eye to any anti-Semitic actions - and particularly those within its own borders. This is why burning the Israeli flag in Germany is utterly unacceptable. Those who have come to Germany seeking safety and a new place to call home must abide by this fact. There are fundamental values in German society that are non-negotiable. The writer is editor-in-chief of Deutsche Welle.