Germany: Masha Gessen Receives Hannah Arendt Prize Amid Controversy Over Gaza Comments
Hannah Arendt, known for her critical stance on Israel and Zionism from 1942 to 1975, would likely not have qualified for the Hannah Arendt Prize today either
Location: Germany, Bremen
Date: December 18, 2023
American-Russian journalist Masha Gessen receives the prestigious Hannah Arendt Prize after the Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBS) had initially withdrawn its support following Gessen's essay in the New Yorker, where they compared Gaza to Jewish ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom recognizes the importance of supporting voices that dare to explore sensitive and difficult subjects. Gessen's perspective as a Jewish, nonbinary person with roots in the Soviet Union brings a unique and invaluable lens to discussions about authoritarianism, identity politics, and international relations. Gessen's work which sparked controversy due to its comparison of Gaza to Nazi-era ghettos, exemplifies the kind of courageous and thought-provoking journalism that is essential in a world grappling with complex socio-political issues. We welcome the decision by the Heinrich Böll Foundation to honor Gessen, but the initial withdrawal of support is concerning. This action signaled a troubling readiness to capitulate to public pressure and controversy, rather than standing firm in the defense of free expression. It suggested a vulnerability in the institutions that are supposed to champion and protect journalistic voices, especially those that dare to address contentious and complex issues.
Masha Gessen — a non-binary American Russian journalist in exile charged by Russian authorities in August for spreading “false information” — received the prestigious Hannah Arendt prize after it was previously rescinded. Gessen, who is Jewish and was born in the Soviet Union, has been an outspoken critic of various political figures, including Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and has not shied away from critiquing Israel's policies towards Palestinians. A recent comparison in their article, however, touched a sensitive nerve in Germany, where the award originates from, a country deeply conscious of its historical responsibility regarding the Holocaust.
In their article titled “In the Shadow of the Holocaust,” Gessen delved into the complexities of German Holocaust remembrance, positing that it sometimes stifles open debate about Israel.
“But as in the Jewish ghettoes of Occupied Europe, there are no prison guards –Gaza is policed not by the occupiers but by a local force. Presumably, the more fitting term ‘ghetto’ would have drawn fire for comparing the predicament of besieged Gazans to that of ghettoized Jews. It also would have given us the language to describe what is happening in Gaza now. The ghetto is being liquidated,” Gessen writes.
While condemning the actions of Hamas in recent conflicts, Gessen also criticized Israel's approach towards the Palestinians. The use of the term “ghetto” to describe Gaza was a direct and provocative comparison to the ghettos of World War II, where Jews faced horrific conditions before being transported to death camps.
Hannah Arendt, known for her criticism of Israel and contemporary Zionism from 1942 to 1975, would likely not be eligible for the Hannah Arendt Prize today due to her political views. As a Jewish German woman who fled Germany in 1933 after Gestapo detention, her writings on Germany would be more contentious than Masha Gessen's. This is highlighted by a passage in Arendt's 1955 correspondence to her husband, which resonates with Gessen's controversial comparison and is considered more critical:
“The galut-and-ghetto mentality is in full bloom. And the idiocy is right in front of everyone’s eyes: Here in Jerusalem I can barely go for a walk, because I might turn the wrong corner and find myself ‘abroad’, ie, in Arab territory. Essentially it’s the same everywhere. On top of that, they treat the Arabs, those still here, in a way that in itself would be enough to rally the whole world against Israel.”
The original plan for Gessen to receive the Hannah Arendt Prize on Friday in Bremen's city hall was altered. The Heinrich Böll Foundation, associated with Germany's Green party, and the Senate of Bremen distanced themselves from the ceremony following the article's publication. The event was eventually held at an alternative venue with heightened security and a significantly smaller audience.
The Böll Foundation, while finding the comparison made by Gessen "unacceptable," chose not to rescind the award itself, a decision that has been subject to both praise and criticism. The jury had selected Gessen for the prize earlier in the summer.
In their acceptance speech, Gessen talked about the controversy. “There is a rule - and it is certainly not unique to Germany - that you don’t compare things to the Holocaust,” they say. “There is a paradox: we imagine the Holocaust in great detail, but we conceive of it as fundamentally unimaginable.”
Gessen delves into Hannah Arendt's perspective on politics as a space for coexistence without repeating past horrors, and how international humanitarian law and concepts like genocide emerged post-Holocaust. They stress the importance of comparing cases in law, and the application of Holocaust-related concepts in current events, such as Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
“We are not any smarter, kinder, wiser, or more moral than people who lived ninety years ago,” the author says. “But we know something they didn’t know: we know that the Holocaust is possible.”
“There is a paradox: we imagine the Holocaust in great detail, but we conceive of it as fundamentally unimaginable.”
Gessen is not the only journalist “punished” for calling Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide. On December 9, 2023, France withdrew the Simone Veil award from French-Moroccan journalist Zineb El Rhazoui due to her pro-Palestine stance. El Rhazoui, a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, had received the award four years earlier following a public vote. In response to the withdrawal, she stated her refusal to accept the prize if it meant compromising her ability to express her views on Palestinian suffering. El Rhazoui emphasized that her denunciation of crimes by both Israel in Gaza and Hamas against Israeli civilians honors Simone Veil's legacy.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stand with Masha Gessen and all journalists who bravely venture into challenging terrains of socio-political discourse. Gessen's work invites readers to engage with complex and often painful realities. This kind of journalism is crucial for the advancement of understanding and empathy in a diverse and interconnected world. In the face of criticism, particularly in a country like Germany, where historical sensitivities are understandably heightened, it is vital to defend the principle of freedom of expression. Silencing journalists like Gessen's, which bring depth and nuance to contentious issues, would be a disservice to the pursuit of truth and understanding. We firmly believe in the enrichment that comes from diverse voices in journalism. The insights and experiences that Gessen brings to the table are not just valuable but necessary for a well-rounded and informed public discourse. Her courage in tackling such a delicate subject matter deserves not just protection but commendation. It is through such fearless journalism that societies can hope to confront and address their most pressing and complex issues.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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