German left-wingers rally for Israel

The demonstration was a symptom of the split in Germany's political left, with a significant group criticising what they consider to be their brethren's instinctive failure to recognise and support Israel and to share responsibility for the crimes of the Nazi era.

Meanwhile, some left-wing media accused the protesters of being fascists and warmongers. Left Party chairman Gregor Gysi, who is of Jewish background, has called Israel's flotilla action unjustified.

Saturday's protest aimed to portray the Left Party, which was formed in 2007 and is the fourth largest in the federal parliament, as "maybe the most aggressive and dangerous party when it comes to Israel and antisemitism, and collaboration with Islamist groups," Mr Weckerle said.

To ignore the "openly aggressive antisemitic motives and actions of groups like Hamas, you have be antisemitic yourself," he added. When "people who claim they are progressive" support groups that advocate living under shariah law, "you have to ask why this is and how aggressively they deny the Israeli perspectives", he said.