What is the price of solidarity? An interview with German lawyer Melanie Schweizer

How did Melanie Schweizer turn into a news headline overnight?

It was the German lawyer’s unwavering support of Gaza and Palestine that led to her dismissal from her job in the public sector. In a heartfelt Instagram video, Schweizer spoke about the personal cost she incurred for speaking the truth and standing by the values she has always believed in.

Despite the consequences, she expressed no regrets, affirming that it is her duty to uphold constitutional values and accountability. This commitment led her to run for the recent parliamentary elections as a representative of the progressive party MeRA25, or The European Realistic Disobedience Front. Although she didn’t receive enough votes to secure a seat, she gained worldwide support and recognition, fueling her journey in advocating for justice.

Raseef22 spoke with Schweizer to hear the details of her experience firsthand and learn about how a moment of vulnerability can be transformed into a powerful catalyst for change.
The conversation also explores how European citizens of Arab descent can play a more influential role in regional politics, which are currently shifting due to changes in the United States’ foreign policy. This moment presents an opportunity to reshuffle the political dynamics across the Mediterranean, potentially creating a better future if individuals like Schweizer gain a foothold and backing from immigrant communities in Europe.

This interview was conducted on March 11th and was slightly edited for clarity and style.

Dana Al Sheikh, Arabs in Europe editor for Raseef22: I noticed the titles on your bookshelf behind you, and they made me think of a couple of questions. First, how did your awareness of Palestine begin? Given that Western perspectives on Palestinian history and the conflict are often one-sided, with little willingness to consider other narratives, I’m curious: how did your understanding develop, and what shaped your perspective?

My awareness of Palestine began at university, largely because one of my best friends was from Cairo, Egypt. We met when we were around 18 and quickly became like sisters. For her, the issue was much closer, and she often gave presentations about the Israel-Palestine conflict and possible solutions.

In Germany—and Europe, in general—we aren’t really educated about this topic. For a long time, I didn’t know much about it at all. However, I was always interested in international law, so during my early university years, I attended lectures and discussions, some organized by older German associations that still engage with the issue. But in German society as a whole, Palestine is rarely discussed.

I remember going to a panel about 15 years ago about Gaza being the world’s largest open-air prison. Even then, my understanding remained limited. Looking back now, especially during the genocide, I find myself wondering—where was I during the events of 2021, 2018, or even 2014? Why wasn’t I more aware? I think a lot of it has to do with the media. They portray the conflict as overwhelmingly complex, discouraging people from engaging with it. It’s as if you need a university degree just to understand it, which is, of course, misleading.

As part of my legal training in jurisdictional entrepreneurship, I had to complete different professional rotations—working with a judge, a state prosecutor, and lawyers. One section allowed for free choice, and I decided to do mine at an NGO in Jordan.

I had lived in many places around the world but never in the Middle East, mainly because I didn’t speak Arabic—though I did learn a little while I was there. I saw this as my last chance to experience the region before fully entering the workforce. While in Jordan, I felt drawn to visit Palestine. I had always wanted to go, though I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. So, I decided to spend three days there, and that experience changed everything for me. In many ways, it changed my life—it never left me.

What shocked you the most when you were there? How did that experience affect you?

The reality I witnessed was harrowing and shocking. Even though I am white and German, and therefore not subjected to the same oppression, I still felt the weight of it. At every checkpoint, there was a machine gun pointed at me. If you aren’t overtly friendly with the Israeli authorities, you’re seen as an enemy. In the West Bank, if you get shot, no one cares. It feels lawless, like they can do whatever they want. The oppression is tangible; you feel it in the air.

I have always had a deep intolerance for injustice—it’s one of the reasons I chose to study law. And witnessing what I did in Palestine, it was clear to me that this is one of the greatest injustices in the world, so blatant and undeniable.

I remember going to a panel about 15 years ago about Gaza being the world’s largest open-air prison. Even then, my understanding remained limited. Looking back now, especially during the genocide, I find myself wondering—where was I during the events of 2021, 2018, or even 2014? Why wasn’t I more aware? I think a lot of it has to do with the media. They portray the conflict as overwhelmingly complex, discouraging people from engaging with it. It’s as if you need a university degree just to understand it, which is, of course, misleading.

Seeing the situation yourself and then noticing how the media ignores it must have been shocking. How did this experience change the way you see the media, especially about Palestine?

Most of my friends in Jordan were originally Palestinian. In fact, I only knew one person who was completely Jordanian—the rest were Palestinian-Jordanian, their families having been refugees. What struck me was that, as a German, I could travel to Palestine freely, while many of my Palestinian friends, whose families still own land there, were completely barred from returning.

One of my friends, for example, has family property in Palestine, but she will likely never be allowed to set foot on it. The fact that so many Palestinians, and Arabs in general, are denied entry while Europeans can visit freely was deeply unsettling. Witnessing this injustice firsthand and realizing there was nothing I could do about it was frustrating—especially knowing that it had been ignored by the world for decades.

This was just a year or two before October 7th, and even then, the situation was worsening every year. Yet, no one was talking about it. Palestine was never part of the mainstream discussion, despite the continuous land confiscations, killings, and escalating oppression. Seeing it unfold, I was shocked. After I left, I started following the news more closely, and that’s when I realized how German media completely distorts the narrative. Every day, I would see reports from Palestinian sources about military and settler violence, yet none of it was covered in German news. But the moment one Israeli was killed, it made headlines in every major newspaper.

It was incomprehensible how the media and governments could consciously place different values on human life. This is more than just bias—it’s about geopolitical interests, ideology, racism, maintaining power, resources, and control in the Middle East. Israel plays a key role in that. Of course, Germany’s historical guilt also factors into its unconditional support. But the way we've been conditioned to see this conflict is deeply flawed. It’s a misconception we’ve been taught—almost brainwashed into believing. And the most tragic part is that this hasn’t just been happening for a few years; it has been ongoing for over 70 years, and the world continues to look away.

Throughout your career, you've met many European Jews and others who are loyal to Israel. How do they typically respond to the idea of Israel, and what aspects of the situation do you think they might be overlooking or not fully comprehending?

When I lived in the U.S. for a year, my roommate, who was Jewish, told me she was going to Israel. She mentioned that every Jewish person gets a two-week trip there, completely sponsored, at no cost. To me, this felt like part of a larger propaganda effort. I’ve noticed the same thing in Germany. Many of the people I know, especially friends, have visited Israel several times. They love Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and they see these places as vibrant, European-like cities in the Middle East.

If you aren’t overtly friendly with the Israeli authorities, you’re seen as an enemy. In the West Bank, if you get shot, no one cares. It feels lawless, like they can do whatever they want. The oppression is tangible; you feel it in the air.

But none of them have been to the West Bank. They have no idea about the apartheid system, the military rule, and the oppression happening just next door. Yet, for these people, their loyalty to Israel becomes strong because they’ve experienced it as a tourist—having coffee, going to clubs, and enjoying the sights. I think it's also an issue of identity: many of them can identify with Israel, but it's much harder for them to relate to the Palestinians, especially when the narrative has been shaped by decades of Islamophobia and a lack of understanding.

I’d like to ask you about your experience with the elections because I think I misunderstood something about your party: you were suspended from your job and asked to step back from the elections, yet you chose to continue and insisted on participating. Could you clarify what happened?

Since the genocide began, I’ve been actively involved [in Palestinian solidarity], even before October 2023. I went to Nakba events before the 7th of October, and I’ve been closely monitoring the situation. In the first couple of weeks of October 2023, demonstrations were banned in Germany, which was a crazy situation. It felt like the pain of some people was being completely denied while others were allowed to express it. I kept attending every protest that was permitted, doing everything I could, even after work. Everyone at my workplace knew that I was very critical of Israel, and I openly stated that I believe that what is happening amounts to genocide.

At some point, I realized I needed to do more. I wasn’t happy anymore, especially because I was working for the German government, which I believe is aiding and abetting the genocide. As a human rights lawyer, I couldn’t continue in good conscience. I knew I had to be more active politically. That’s when I decided to run with the political party MeRA25, which is a pan-European, internationalist movement founded by Yanis Varoufakis, who is very outspoken against the genocide and apartheid.

While running, I kept my social media profiles public to gain visibility. But, unfortunately, a far-right newspaper picked up on my candidacy. They began doxxing me on social media, where people found out I was a lawyer, and then searched for my employer to threaten me. When they found out I worked at the ministry, they launched a campaign against me. The ministry suspended me immediately, and eventually, I was fired while in the middle of my election campaign.

The party I was running with was quite new, so unfortunately, we didn’t make it into parliament. It was too early and too small. The real reason I ran was because I didn’t feel represented by anyone in the existing parties. It’s devastating to live in a so-called democracy where, for me and thousands of others, no politician truly represents our values or needs.

You mentioned the issue with democracy—this feeling that it's failing across Europe. Why do you think we can't make progress? We have a similar problem here in Italy, where people don’t seem to care much about elections or actively engage with the issues. What do you believe is at the root of the problem?

Our governments know that what they are doing is wrong, much like the dictatorships in the Middle East. They understand that if the public becomes fully aware [of their actions], they would no longer support them. That’s why many governments, including in Germany, are turning more authoritarian. The situation is really bad; people now believe it’s not allowed to say Israel is committing genocide or to say “Free Palestine” because they think it could be considered a criminal insult. This comes after the German government campaigned to criminalize the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and wrongly associating it with Hamas. Similarly, something as harmless as a red triangle is now forbidden in Germany. This is insane. A strong state with confidence wouldn’t persecute people for something so trivial.

The Global South is no longer what it was 30 years ago. It's now a vibrant and dynamic region, with China emerging as a major player. The old system, where the U.S. dictated the global economy, isn't going to work anymore.

The reason for this crackdown is clear: the governments know that their support for Israel is largely dependent on public opinion. If they don’t repress it, then public opinion will shift, which could harm their geopolitical and economic interests. But in doing this, they’re slowly dismantling our democracy.

There are similarities to the 1930s, as Martin Niemöller famously said: "First, they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist… and by the time they came for me, there was no one left to speak out." It feels like that now, especially with the anti-genocide movement and those protesting and resisting the violence. What’s happening now is still confined to a bubble, but if the state continues abusing its power without checks and balances, it will fester like a cancer.

I plan to take legal action against my dismissal.

Okay, regarding your career, what are your plans moving forward in light of all of this?

The election phase is over now, but I’m committed to staying politically active, advocating for peace, and doing everything I can to organize for change. While Palestine is the issue closest to my heart, I also care deeply about the ongoing conflicts in places like Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine. These wars are a sign of the larger problems we face, and it’s clear that the current neoliberal order—where a few states control everything and others are left to follow—cannot continue. I plan to keep pushing for change and will also take legal action against my dismissal. For now, I may focus on regaining my lawyer's license and working on Palestinian cases in court.

So, you don't regret your actions or the values you stand by?

No, I would never regret speaking up. They tried to silence me, but now I’m going to be louder than ever. Before, I had to maintain a principle of moderation when expressing my political opinions, but now I no longer have that constraint. I can be more vocal and true to what is now my profession. I was previously employed by the state, so I couldn’t take legal action against them, but now that I’m no longer employed by them, I can. Fortunately, I am a lawyer, so I have the tools to do that.

What are your thoughts on Europe's policies in light of everything that has happened? Specifically, with the current direction of the U.S. under the Trump administration and the White House's plans for America's future. How are these developments affecting Europe?

I think Europe is really preparing its people for times of war, right? The economy is stagnating, and that's a result of poor political management. It also stems from the U.S. relying too long on the notion that it could just sit at the head of the table without understanding that the world has changed. The Global South is no longer what it was 30 years ago. It's now a vibrant and dynamic region, with China emerging as a major player. The old system, where the U.S. dictated the global economy, isn't going to work anymore.

Europe should have adapted to these changes, but they missed that opportunity. There’s still time to adjust, but it seems like Europe is in denial. Now, they seem desperate because they don't know how to move forward. On one hand, they want to maintain their relationship with the U.S., but on the other hand, they realize that the U.S. is unpredictable. The leadership is unreliable, and that's a major concern for Europe.

As you mentioned, there is a generation with different values who truly believe in their opinions, freedom, and equality. However, we often feel that we lack the power or organization to properly invest in and support this generation. Do you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can better empower them?

As you mentioned, the mainstream media in the West is complicit in the genocide, and we need to build alternatives that don't rely on these systems. On the positive side, I think younger people, Gen Z, are different. They are fierce, demanding equality, and they don't accept the idea that the strong should rule over the weak. They get their information from social media, so they are much more educated and aware than previous generations.

So, I believe we still can make a difference. We just need to be strategic in our actions. For example, we can support small, independent media outlets that are reporting on what’s truly happening. In Germany, we have a publication called Junge, which is a left-wing newspaper providing honest coverage. Subscribing to such platforms would help make them more influential.

The reason for this crackdown is clear: the governments know that their support for Israel is largely dependent on public opinion. If they don’t repress it, then public opinion will shift, which could harm their geopolitical and economic interests. But in doing this, they’re slowly dismantling our democracy.

Additionally, we can be mindful of our consumption habits—avoiding brands like Coca-Cola, Booking, and others that are not part of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. BDS is a powerful tool, and we should use it more actively to empower ourselves.

It’s important to remember that everything we do matters—every conversation, every action, even if we don’t see the impact immediately. Life works in a way that the small things we do can have a big influence over time.

I don't understand why the media in Europe, especially in Germany, is so pro-Israel. Why, in your opinion, is Western media generally supportive of Israel?

For decades—over a century—there has been strategic campaigning and positioning on Israel’s part. If we look at the 1940s, when colonization was largely abolished, Israel was undertaking a bold project: establishing another colony, seizing land, and displacing people—something that was already considered outdated and unacceptable at the time. To sustain this, they had to continuously fight for legitimacy. That is why the discourse around Israel’s "right to exist" is so persistent—because Israel itself repeatedly reinforces this narrative, knowing that its existence remains a contentious issue due to how it was established. But in reality, a ‘right’ to exist is a meaningless concept when a state already exists.

As Francis Sky pointed out, this concept does not exist in international law. The fact that Israel keeps bringing up this issue and claiming that others don’t want them to exist only highlights how existential this matter is for them.They need to maintain influence to uphold an unlawful status quo that would otherwise be unsustainable.

If the general public were to widely acknowledge that what Israel is doing is unlawful, the entire structure of support for it would collapse like a house of cards. It is clear that Israel’s regime is morally bankrupt, showing no regard for ethics or human rights. For them, Palestinians are considered less than animals—they have said so themselves on multiple occasions.

An ideology like Zionism becomes almost like a cult. People are driven by it because it's bigger than them—almost like a religion. If your religious belief is to establish a state, you’ll go to any lengths to achieve that.

My last question is about political engagement. How can we encourage more participation, especially from Arab immigrant communities in Europe?

Someone recently told me, "We shouldn't reinvent the wheel" If there are strategies that work, we should adopt and implement them. One of the biggest advantages for Arabs is their large numbers—both worldwide and in Europe. Another major strength is their deep, unwavering connection to Palestine.

Even though many Arab leaders don't care about Palestine because they’re focused on their personal interests, they continue to voice support for Palestine. They know if they don’t, they risk internal unrest or even a civil war in their own countries.

It's also crucial to find like-minded allies. This is a racist society, so building strong alliances is the only way forward. That’s why it was so important for me to speak out—because when someone like me does, it can have a different impact compared to when someone of Palestinian or Lebanese descent speaks out. There is always this tendency to dismiss Arab voices. But when a diverse range of people get involved, it disrupts that narrative.

In Germany alone, we've seen over 1,000 Palestinian grassroots movements form in just the last year and a half. This momentum is here to stay. The key now is to connect, organize more efficiently, continue speaking out, and build alliances. Lobbying politicians and securing financial resources will also be crucial—because, in the end, much of this struggle comes down to funding and influence.

This elicits hope—because despite the worsening situation and the horrific atrocities we are witnessing, resistance and voices of opposition continue to grow. The chances for Palestinian liberation have never been as significant as they are now.

Palestinians just want their freedom, not fantasies of superiority or world domination. Unfortunately, that kind of fanaticism gives immense power. You saw that with Hitler—he had a vision of world domination, and he was willing to go to horrific lengths to make it a reality. The situation with Israel today is somewhat similar, but of course, it’s just in a different context.