Brandenburg’s anti-Semitism commissioner has resigned from Germany’s Left Party (Die Linke) after escalating disputes over the party’s stance on Israel, warning that he could no longer remain without betraying his own convictions.
Andreas Büttner, who has served as the state of Brandenburg’s commissioner for combating anti-Semitism since 2024, announced his departure from Die Linke after years of internal conflict over anti-Semitism and the Middle East.
The immediate trigger was a controversial resolution adopted by the party’s regional branch in Lower Saxony regarding Israel and Zionism, which Büttner viewed as a further sign that anti-Semitic narratives were being tolerated within parts of the party
In a statement explaining his decision, seen by outlet Jüdische Allgemeine, Büttner yesterday said he could not continue his membership without compromising his beliefs. “I cannot remain a member of this party any longer without betraying my own convictions,” he wrote.
“When I was elected, I received support not only from my own party, but also from the SPD [Social Democratic Party], CDU [Chritian Democratic Union) and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen [Alliance 90/The Greens].
“This was an important signal that the fight against anti-Semitism is a task that goes beyond party lines. All the more shocking for me is what I have had to experience for years within my own party.”
In the resolution, backed by a sound majority of the party in Hannover, the party calls for the “rejection of Zionism” and says Israel is an ethnonationalist state, promoting colonialism and fuelling war in the Near East.
“Both the Israeli Government and Hamas openly harbour fantasies of annihilation against the ethnic groups represented by the other,” the resolution states.
“One thing is clear: Occupation, deprivation of rights and lack of prospects lead to terror. The Gaza Strip lies in ruins after more than two years of genocide,” it adds.
It calls for an “end to apartheid in Israel and in the occupied territories” and denounces an alleged misuse of the term anti-Semitism.
‼️ Die Linke in Niedersachsen hat auf ihrem Landesparteitag einen Antrag beschlossen, in dem die "Ideologie des Zionismus" abgelehnt und Israel damit das Existenzrecht in seiner jetzigen Staatsform abgesprochen wird.https://t.co/YNN1HndNTS pic.twitter.com/G77zHxyh78
— Michael Thaidigsmann (@Thaidigsmann) March 15, 2026
Büttner’s departure follows a prolonged dispute within Die Linke over how the party approaches Israel and anti-Semitism.
The commissioner had repeatedly criticised what he described as a failure by the party to confront anti-Semitic rhetoric among some members.
According to reports, Büttner also objected to the party’s rejection of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and its preference for alternative frameworks that critics say blur the line between legitimate criticism of Israel and anti-Semitic discourse.
The tensions had already escalated in 2025 when several party members sought to expel Büttner over pro-Israel statements he made on social media.
He had defended arms deliveries to Israel and accused the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, of ties to the militant group Hamas — positions critics within the party argued contradicted official party policy.
Büttner also pointed to what he described as personal hostility from within his own political camp. In recent years he had been the target of threats and intimidation because of his stance on anti-Semitism and Israel.
In January 2026, a suspected arson attack targeted a building on his property in Brandenburg while his family was at home, following earlier vandalism that included Nazi symbols on his car. Authorities treated the incident as a deliberate attack.
His own party, though, remained silent.
Announcing his resignation, Büttner said the situation had reached a point where continuing within the party was impossible.
“It simply can’t go on like this,” he said.
Büttner had been a member of Die Linke since 2015 and previously served as a member of the Brandenburg state parliament.
