{"id":1722,"date":"2025-10-26T17:07:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T17:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/about-zeit-zu-reden\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T09:40:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T09:40:29","slug":"about-zeit-zu-reden","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/about-zeit-zu-reden\/","title":{"rendered":"About Zeit zu reden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Idea<\/h4>\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 is a series of events on various political topics that emerged in connection with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The idea for it developed in early summer 2024 in response to a public debate that, since 7 October 2023, has been characterised by a lack of openness, fear, the spread of misinformation, defamation and hate speech \u2013 whether in politics, the media or on the streets.<\/p>\n\n

\n

\u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 brings together academics, intellectuals and experts for profound discussions on topics that are often difficult to address in the German public sphere. Their knowledge, experience and professional expertise serve to objectify and broaden the debate as a whole. Stereotypical patterns of argumentation are broken down, certainties are questioned and different views are acknowledged.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

Objectives<\/h4>\n\n

The series of events aims to bring people back into conversation with each other who have become alienated from one another in terms of content and emotion. This includes left-wing, left-liberal, migrant-oriented, middle-class and conservative sections of society. \u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 counters the constant reassurance provided by like-minded people with the presentation and expansion of other, and thus new, perspectives and opinions. \u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 attaches great importance to creating a safe space for discussion for participants and the audience. \n<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n

The aim of \u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 is to make a constructive contribution to political discourse in Germany. In view of a culture of debate increasingly characterised by populism and hostility, the focus is on imparting knowledge and promoting nuanced discussion. Sensitive and emotionally charged topics are discussed in all their facets, but always on the basis of human rights and international law. Despite all the controversy surrounding the content, the participants are united by their commitment to the rule of law and democracy, as well as their willingness to engage in dialogue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

Instead of reinforcing thinking in political camps and thereby deepening social divides, \u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 seeks to strengthen liberal democracy, which is coming under pressure\u2014and being called into question\u2014due to authoritarian tendencies at home and the growing influence of far-right, ethno\u2011nationalist positions in international politics.<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

Principles<\/h4>\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 firmly opposes all forms of group-based hostility and incitement to hatred, including antisemitism, anti-Muslim racism, anti-Jewish hatred, anti-Gypsyism, anti-Arab racism, anti-Palestinian racism, sexism, homophobia and any other form of devaluation and exclusion. At ‘Zeit zu reden’ events, positions grounded in human rights, international law and the German Basic Law take centre stage, with the aim of achieving the legal equality and equal treatment of all people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

The views expressed in the panel discussions and articles are solely those of our contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of \u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019.<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

Team<\/h4>\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When the Israeli conductor Ido Arad, the Armenian\u2011Lebanese\u2011German activist Haig Ghokassian, and the German journalist Kristin Helberg met in Berlin, they all shared the same sense of concern: a fact\u2011based, honest, and open discussion about Palestine and Israel seemed impossible in Germany. With their discussion series \u201cZeit zu reden,\u201d they aim to prove that it is possible\u2014and to offer people what is needed for it: knowledge and truthfulness, a willingness to learn, and the ability to engage in dialogue\u2014not only on Israel and Palestine, but also on other topics.<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

Financing<\/h4>\n\n

Since April 2025, Zeit zu reden has been a recognised non-profit (unregistered) association based in Berlin. The initiative is supported by volunteers, donations and several private foundations; it does not receive any government funding. In 2025, the supporters of \u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 include the Sch\u00f6pflin Foundation, the Mercator Foundation, the Robert Bosch Foundation and the German Postcode Lottery.<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Most events \u2013 panel discussions and workshops \u2013 take place at the Spore Initiative<\/a> in Berlin-Neuk\u00f6lln, a safe and free place for exchange. This support and cooperation is of great importance to Zeit zu reden.<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Idea \u2018Zeit zu reden\u2019 is a series of events on various political topics that emerged in connection with the Israeli-Palestinian…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1722","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1722"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1734,"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1722\/revisions\/1734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeitzureden.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}