08.05.2011 04.Ijar, 5771 Tag 19 des Omer
Wuppertal:
German mayor takes heat for ‘Hamas’ European event
City-funded hall in Wuppertal to be used for "Palestinians in Europe" conference, at which Hamas fundraiser will speak, sparking criticism.
The decision of Mayor Peter Jung and the city council in Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, not to oppose a pro-Palestinian conference on Saturday that featured Hamas supporters has sparked criticism.
The conference, which was green-lighted by the Wuppertal Municipality in January, took place in a city-funded convention center.
“There is nothing wrong with holding a pro-Palestinian event, of course, but there is something quite disturbing that the organizers saw the need to invite several extremist speakers, including apologists for terrorism, and those with views that many find repugnantly anti-Semitic such as [Bundestag deputy] Inge Höger – especially since the conference is in Germany, of all places," British-born journalist and Middle East expert Tom Gross told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday….