When Arabs Rush to Condemn Their Own: A Berlin Incident Exposes a Double Standard

I recently came across a powerful account written by a Palestinian author in Berlin. Despite repeated attempts, I have been unable to reach him. His account raises important questions about the behavior of some Arabs who rush to condemn their own community in an effort to demonstrate loyalty and gain acceptance. I decided to examine the incident and its broader implications in my own words.

An anti-Israel protester scaled a 30m pole outside the Reichstag to replace the German flag with a Palestinian one.

Three men arrested after 22-year-old scales 30m pole for anti-Israel stunt in Berlin
Activists hoist Palestinian flag at Germany’s Reichstag
Last Sunday, during day light, three young German men hoisted the Palestinian flag in front the Reichstag to replace the German flag with a Palestinian one. 

Bundestag building- the symbol of the entire German state. One young man climbed a 30-meter flagpole, lowered the German flag and hoisted the Palestinian flag in its place. The other two assisted by: one held the ladder while the photographed the entire event, where it was broadcasted live on Tik Tok

As soon as the video began to circulate, the event made international news like a wildfire. Later the Berlin police arrested the three brave young men. All three are suspected of insulting state symbols. They were identified as:

1. Aaron: 22 years old—he is the one who climbed the flagpole. 

2. A 20-year-old man: He was down below, holding the ladder and filming.

3. Danial Goepel: A 32-year-old who was also filming and supporting the operation and the group spokesman

And all three are German born, active member of a German group active throughout Germany called "Peacefully Against Genocide," and none of them have roots or connection to the Middle East.

Ater the chorus erupted.

Arabs living in Germany—took a shameful stand. Instead of remaining silent or waiting for the facts to emerge—the suddenly became self-appointed guardians of the German flag, even more upset than the Germans themselves.

It was a joy to watch the Palestinian flag fly over the Reichstag in Berlin last Sunday—a powerful symbolic gesture, especially given Germany's position as Israel's second-largest arms supplier after the United States during the Gaza war.

https://x.com/HatsOffff/status/2119696256905724231?a=52udXjwkoLPG4ynj7v4&s=20

Ammar Khalil a Palestinian born in Latikia, Syria who is automotive electronics engineer addressed the issue on his Facebook page by stating: Shamefully the Arabs in Berlin flooded social media with posts, stories, and videos stating

"These people are scum! They should be deported immediately!"

"They are not one of us; we disown them!"

"They’ve ruined our reputation in Germany!"

Khalil mocked those psychopathic Arabs by saying: "Oh, how wonderful—what magnificent patriotism!

A patriotism that suddenly awakens—to defend the German flag!"

Khalil further argued that those Arabs acted as if "they had been waiting years for this very moment, just to say to the Germans: "Look at us! We aren't like them; we are one of you—we are more German than the Germans themselves!"

Just a few hours later, the Berlin police issued an official statement—a brief one, yet it served as a stinging slap in the face to every single one of them. The perpetrators are German born citizen with no connection to the Middle East, no immigrant background, no Arab roots and have no refugee status. All are member of a German group active throughout Germany that is called " "Peacefully Against Genocide."

Basically, the entire act- from start to finish—was German. Shortly after, Arabs were silent, post vanished, and video disappear. The same people who were hour earlier, who Khalil describe as " daring heroes defending Germany turned into rats, deleting their posts in the dark as if nothing had ever happened. Why" Khalil raised a rhetorical question then asked, " Where you ashamed" Perhaps " you realized that  that the person you were hurling insults at was standing right in front of you, laughing at you?

According to Khalil, the issue is not the person who raised the flag—whether we agree with him or not is his own business and his own cause; he is a German citizen criticizing his own government. The problem lies with the Arab who, at the first opportunity, turns into a guard dog to bite his own brother—only to then transform into a terrified rabbit the moment he discovers that the person responsible is an actual German.

Khalil shame those Arabs by asking them Go ahead—demand that these three Germans be prosecuted. Can you do that?

Of course not. Because you only dare to target the weak—your own countrymen, refugees like yourselves, those who cannot strike back.

Khalil ended his Facebook post by say, "You sought to prove your loyalty to the Germans, but you proved only one thing:

That you are prepared to sell out your own people, your dignity, and your causes. And this is the ultimate form of humiliation: to be an Arab, yet boast of hating Arabs, just to be accepted in someone else’s land.

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes about U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern affairs, and justice.