Brandenburg’s Anti-Semitism Commissioner Leaves Left Party Amid Rising Internal Disputes

Andreas Büttner, the anti-Semitism commissioner for the state of Brandenburg, has resigned from the Left Party (Die Linke), citing irreconcilable differences over the party’s stance on Israel and anti-Semitism. Büttner, a member of the party since 2015 and a former member of the Brandenburg state parliament from 2019 to 2024, confirmed his departure on Sunday evening.

Escalating Tensions and the Lower Saxony Party Conference

The immediate catalyst for Büttner’s resignation was a resolution passed at the Lower Saxony Left Party conference over the weekend. 104 out of 157 delegates voted in favor of a motion position forward by the Left Youth, titled “Rejection of Zionism.” The motion criticized “the denial and/or trivialization of the settler-colonialist acts of the State of Israel,” asserting that Israel, “then as now,” is characterized by “forcible conquest of territories” and the “expulsion of its inhabitants.”

The adopted motion too condemned what it termed the “prevailing apartheid and the genocide taking place in Palestine” and criticized the “misuse of the term anti-Semitism to criticize the numerous crimes of the Israeli state.” It called for the rejection of Zionism and for the Left Party in Lower Saxony to refrain from promoting or advertising the work of Zionist organizations, even suggesting the “spreading of Zionist ideology” should be “prohibited.” Despite this strong stance, the motion also affirmed a desire to continue working “with Jewish communities and organizations.” The original motion was slightly softened at the behest of state chairwoman Hilke Hochheiden to include a condemnation of Hamas and support for a peace process, but numerous delegates still protested by leaving the conference after the vote.

“It’s No Longer Possible”

Büttner initially hesitated, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that he was awaiting the outcome of a potential party exclusion proceeding scheduled for April 25th. Although, he ultimately decided to submit his resignation letter to the party on Sunday evening. The letter, as reported by the Jüdische Allgemeine, begins and ends with the phrase “It’s no longer possible. And I don’t want to anymore.”

In his letter, Büttner explained that leaving the party was a challenging decision, given his long-standing connection to the Left. However, he stated he reached a point where remaining a member would imply betraying his own convictions. He emphasized the seriousness with which he takes his role as anti-Semitism commissioner, noting that his election received support from across the political spectrum – the SPD, CDU and Alliance 90/The Greens – signaling a cross-party commitment to combating anti-Semitism.

Questioning Israel’s Right to Exist and a Lack of Support

Büttner argued that the party’s rejection of Zionism “crossed a line,” equating it to questioning Israel’s right to exist. He asserted that Zionism represents the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their own state and that rejecting this principle undermines the legitimacy of Israel. He also criticized the characterization of Israel as a “genocidal state,” labeling it as an adoption of narratives rooted in modern anti-Semitic ideology.

Büttner further expressed his disappointment with the party’s response to an arson attack on his property in January, stating it took three days for any public statement to be issued, despite the party leader contacting him the day after the attack. He described this silence as deeply hurtful and indicative of the growing distance between himself and the party.

Party Exclusion Proceedings

Büttner also highlighted the ongoing party exclusion proceedings against him, noting that the Federal Arbitration Commission had deemed the application against him “not unfounded.” He characterized the situation as “politically absurd,” arguing that the anti-Semitism commissioner of a state is being considered for exclusion from his own party for openly addressing anti-Semitism. He also criticized the widespread claim within the party that there is no anti-Semitism problem.

Büttner concluded that the Left Party was no longer his political home, leading to his decision to resign.