German Police Arrest Author Jürgen Todenhöfer Over Netanyahu Criticism

Jürgen Todenhöfer, a German author and politician, was arrested in Munich after posting on social media that compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's treatment of Palestinians to Nazi crimes. German authorities conducted a raid on his residence, confiscating his phones and computers, citing strict anti-incitement laws that prohibit statements perceived as diminishing the Holocaust. Todenhöfer, who founded the Justice Party and has been a vocal critic of Western policies in the Middle East, denied accusations of anti-Semitism and emphasized his respect for Jewish Germans and the recognition of the Holocaust as the greatest crime in German history. He condemned the arrest as an attack on freedom of expression and vowed to continue advocating for Palestinian rights despite potential criminal charges. Todenhöfer also criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for welcoming Netanyahu despite the latter being wanted by the International Criminal Court, contrasting this with the legal actions taken against his critics. The incident has sparked debate over the boundaries of free speech and the enforcement of Germany's Holocaust-related laws.