Since the Israeli army began its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack on October 7, there have been more and more horrific images on social media.
They are particularly common on TikTok Images of dead children and civilians, “who were basically bombed in Gaza,” says Imam Ramazan Demir in “Milborn.” According to Demir, who works as a religious representative in schools, some young people were “traumatized” by the images.
These social media videos would become a “Radicalization of society”, especially young people contribute, adds Rabbi Shlomo Hofmeister. He also advocates dialogue with young people in schools. There you will have to analyze and discuss the young people’s feelings together.
Protesting without due understanding
Young people often demonstrate “on behalf of a cause that they may not understand in detail”. At pro-Palestine demonstrations, we often see Hamas flags, but also rainbow flags or climate activists – “Alliances that don’t make sense”.
Hofmeister is certain that “99.9% of people are taking to the streets in Palestine.” The main disagreements concern how to achieve peace in the Middle East conflict, but not whether terrorism is good or bad.
“Feeling of discomfort” for Viennese Jews
What is clear, however, is that since the brutal Hamas attack, anti-Semitic incidents in Austria have increased sharply, as Vienna Deputy Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) underlines in “Milborn”. Danielle Spera, former director of the Jewish Museum, agrees As a “Jewish woman today I walk through Vienna with a feeling of discomfort”..
That’s why dialogues with students, like those held by Demir and Hofmeister, are particularly important for teaching young people how to live in a democracy, says Wiederkehr. He also asks for this own subjectbut this can only be introduced nationwide.
“Catastrophic” conditions in Austrian schools
Criticism of teaching in Austria comes immediately from Spera. Conditions are sometimes “catastrophic”.
In a current geography textbook from an HTL Hamas as “an Islamic resistance movement”Instead of being referred to as a terrorist organization, Wiederkehr confronts them with the corresponding book page.
The city’s school board is already aware of the matter and the Ministry of Education has also taken action. However, Wiederkehr guarantees: “This needs to be resolved immediately.”
Don’t “bring the Middle East conflict here”
The deputy mayor also emphasizes that consistent action must be taken against anti-Semitism in schools. Parents whose children have been suspended from school should, for example social work discussions participate, otherwise a report would be made for the welfare of children and young people.
Demir finally emphasizes that it is important to convey to young people that they are, of course, Muslim and/or Arab, but also Austrian. You must “having multiple identities”.
Schlomo and Spera finally agree: “You should leave the conflict in the Middle East where it isand don’t carry it here.”