A letter to the President of the Max Planck Society
A letter to the President of the Max Planck Society
Das Problem
Dear Prof. Dr. Cramer,
We, as staff, students, and alumni of the Max Planck Society and associated universities, write to you to express serious concerns over your previous statements of unequivocal support for scientific collaboration with the state of Israel, most recently in October 2024 [1]. This speech echoed previous statements made in your role as president of the Max Planck Society [2]. Given the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza and in light of your previous public statements on the issue, we believe that the Max Planck Society’s tacit support for the state of Israel is no longer morally justifiable.
As scientists, it is not our role to engage in politics, nor is it our strength. However, when a nation with close scientific ties to our employer stands accused of genocide [3, 4], and when half a million people are facing starvation [5], we must speak out and use whatever soft power tools are at our disposal. Since 2 March 2025, humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip as a result of the blockade imposed by Israeli authorities, and “basic humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly running out” [6]. We are appalled by the repeated attacks on healthcare facilities and medical personnel, including the killing of medical, civil defence, and humanitarian personnel [7-9]. We note that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has recently stated that “there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing” [9].
We are particularly concerned that your previous public statements feed a dangerous narrative that links any criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism. Indeed, in your statements on the conflict, you have often spoken of our society’s special responsibility to prevent antisemitism, and all signatories of this letter fully support this position. Yet when faced with the hollowed faces of starving children [10], we believe that continued silence — justified by the conflation of criticism of Israeli military actions with antisemitism — is no longer tenable. If “nie wieder” is to hold meaning beyond historical remembrance, it must compel us to stand up for the dignity of all human life, regardless of context.
In order to move forward in a constructive manner, we request an immediate response from the office of the president of the Max Planck Society on the following question:
Do you, as president of the Max Planck Society, acknowledge and condemn the denial of humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip by the state of Israel?
This letter was written with the aim of achieving broad support from our diverse scientific community and hence, we do not make any further direct calls for action. However, as a leader of our community we would welcome a public discussion and reflection on the merits and risks of pausing scientific collaboration with a nation, when its actions violate international law and its leadership appears indifferent to human suffering.
[1] https://www.mpg.de/23563611/20241008-dinner-speech-minerva-weizmann.pdf
[3] https://www.icj-cij.org/node/203454
[5] https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159596
73
Das Problem
Dear Prof. Dr. Cramer,
We, as staff, students, and alumni of the Max Planck Society and associated universities, write to you to express serious concerns over your previous statements of unequivocal support for scientific collaboration with the state of Israel, most recently in October 2024 [1]. This speech echoed previous statements made in your role as president of the Max Planck Society [2]. Given the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza and in light of your previous public statements on the issue, we believe that the Max Planck Society’s tacit support for the state of Israel is no longer morally justifiable.
As scientists, it is not our role to engage in politics, nor is it our strength. However, when a nation with close scientific ties to our employer stands accused of genocide [3, 4], and when half a million people are facing starvation [5], we must speak out and use whatever soft power tools are at our disposal. Since 2 March 2025, humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip as a result of the blockade imposed by Israeli authorities, and “basic humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly running out” [6]. We are appalled by the repeated attacks on healthcare facilities and medical personnel, including the killing of medical, civil defence, and humanitarian personnel [7-9]. We note that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has recently stated that “there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing” [9].
We are particularly concerned that your previous public statements feed a dangerous narrative that links any criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism. Indeed, in your statements on the conflict, you have often spoken of our society’s special responsibility to prevent antisemitism, and all signatories of this letter fully support this position. Yet when faced with the hollowed faces of starving children [10], we believe that continued silence — justified by the conflation of criticism of Israeli military actions with antisemitism — is no longer tenable. If “nie wieder” is to hold meaning beyond historical remembrance, it must compel us to stand up for the dignity of all human life, regardless of context.
In order to move forward in a constructive manner, we request an immediate response from the office of the president of the Max Planck Society on the following question:
Do you, as president of the Max Planck Society, acknowledge and condemn the denial of humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip by the state of Israel?
This letter was written with the aim of achieving broad support from our diverse scientific community and hence, we do not make any further direct calls for action. However, as a leader of our community we would welcome a public discussion and reflection on the merits and risks of pausing scientific collaboration with a nation, when its actions violate international law and its leadership appears indifferent to human suffering.
[1] https://www.mpg.de/23563611/20241008-dinner-speech-minerva-weizmann.pdf
[3] https://www.icj-cij.org/node/203454
[5] https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159596
73
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Petition am 18. Mai 2025 erstellt