On the occasion of the visit of the Israeli ambassador to Leipzig on April 28, members of the Palestine Action Alliance Leipzig (PAL) have announced protests. The ambassador was received at the invitation of the Free State of Saxony and the City of Leipzig. An official reception is planned at the Leipzig Trade Fair halls, hosted by Mayor Burkhard Jung and Minister-President Michael Kretschmer.

The alliance strongly criticises the visit and accuses the State of Israel of serious human rights violations against the Palestinian population. In a statement, PAL described the reception as inappropriate and views it as political support for existing power structures.

According to the activists, the reception serves to celebrate a long-standing political relationship which, in their view, also includes military cooperation. In particular, they criticise the role of international arms deliveries.

The alliance also refers to a recently adopted legal change in the Israeli parliament dated March 31, 2026, concerning the introduction of the death penalty. PAL criticizes this measure as discriminatory and regards it as an expression of structural inequality before the law.

As part of the protests, activists plan to bring their message visibly into Leipzig’s city center. Symbolically, they refer to representations they associate with current political developments. Their aim is to make a public statement against oppression and in support of human rights.

Furthermore, the alliance has announced additional protests in connection with an upcoming visit by the Israeli Ministry of Transport. This visit is scheduled for May 6 to 8, 2026, coinciding with the annual summit of the International Transport Forum of the OECD in Leipzig.

In this context, PAL, together with supporting organisations, is calling for an end to international transport cooperation with Israel as long as, in their view, fundamental human rights standards are not upheld. They emphasise that transport and logistics are not neutral and can have political implications.

The alliance calls on international transport organisations to review their partnerships and align them more closely with human rights principles. At the same time, the public is encouraged to support related initiatives and petitions in order to increase political pressure.

Do you want to be informed of DiEM25's actions? Sign up here