German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has appealed to the organizers of the this year's documenta fifteen art show to do more to tackle the antisemitism allegations surrounding the event.
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The show, which takes place every five years in the German city of Kassel and is considered a major event in the international art calendar, is curated this year by the Indonesian group Ruangrupa, which has been accused of inviting organizations from developing countries that support the anti-Israel boycott, divest, and sanction movement.
Speaking Saturday at the show's official opening, Steinmeier said "there are limits" to what artists can do when they address political issues.
"As justified as some criticism of Israeli policies, such as the building of settlements, is, recognizing Israeli statehood means recognizing the dignity and security of the modern Jewish community," he said. "As Germany's president I say for my country: Recognizing Israel is the basis and condition for debate here."
Steinmeier said he had hoped for a proper debate between representatives from developing countries and the Jewish communities in Germany and Israel ahead of the show.
He called on documenta organizers not to outsource their responsibility to the Indonesian curators, but instead to take on the role of mediators and "create appropriate structures" for debate.
About 1 million people are expected to visit the documenta fifteen, which runs for 100 days.
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