Berlin Left party in uproar over MP's Israel remarks

The Berlin Left (Die Linke) is in open crisis after state parliament member Vanessa Emde publicly criticised what she called a forced loyalty oath to Israel's right to exist and celebrated a 'gain of ground against reason of state'. On 17 October 2026 the Berlin Left party faction told the Tagesspiegel it saw no 'common working basis' with Emde any more, and the Left's state leadership publicly distanced itself from her. The row comes while the Left is negotiating with the SPD and Greens over possible coalition talks following the recent Berlin election; Linke, Grüne and SPD agreed only hours earlier to resume sounding-out talks already on Thursday. Emde defended her statements, framing them as a political signal against unconditional support of Israel's government. Critics inside and outside her party said the formulation was unacceptable and endangered the sounding-out talks. The Berlin faction is now expected to debate consequences for Emde when it meets next week.