Former Terrorist Seeks Position in Germany’s Far-Left Die Linke Party

A man who has identified himself as a former terrorist, involved in the notorious Entebbe hijacking, is vying for a position on the board of Germany’s far-left Die Linke party this weekend during a national gathering.

Die Linke, which has roots in East Germany’s communist regime, is holding its national convention in Potsdam. Gerd Schnepel, 82, is looking to secure a role on the board despite acknowledging past affiliations with a Palestinian radical leftist terrorist group in the 1970s. After fleeing to Nicaragua to avoid extradition in 1978, he recently returned to Germany, where he is believed to be free from arrest, thanks to a 20-year statute of limitations for certain non-lethal terrorism offenses.

Schnepel has claimed that he was part of an urban guerrilla group called “Revolutionary Cell,” which targeted American interests, including a bombing incident at an ITT facility. He had a relationship with one of the Entebbe hijackers and operated a printing press that allegedly produced forged identification documents in a location tied to a business linked to the 1973 Chile coup.

According to Die Linke’s election manifesto, Schnepel describes himself as a military veteran who spent “four years in revolutionary cells,” including time with the Marxist-Leninist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The 1976 Entebbe hijacking, which saw German leftists collaborate with Palestinian militants to divert an Air France flight, is perhaps the most infamous incident connected to this era. The terrorists demanded the liberation of hostages in exchange for the release of non-Jewish passengers and the freedom of Palestinian militants in Israeli custody. The crisis led to the deaths of four hostages, and an Israeli special forces operation successfully rescued the remaining captives a week later, resulting in the deaths of seven hijackers, including Schnepel’s then-girlfriend.

Schnepel contends that his girlfriend did not inform him about the hijacking plan in advance; he learned of it through the news later. He has attempted to rehabilitate the image of far-left militant groups, portraying them as “anti-fascists,” “anti-imperialists,” and “anti-Zionists,” but not “anti-Semitic.” Notably, the sole Israeli casualty during the rescue operation was a special forces soldier, Yonatan Netanyahu, who was the brother of the current Israeli Prime Minister.

The future of Die Linke remains uncertain, especially as reports indicate that the party, characterized recently as a “decrepit…sinking ship,” is experiencing a surge in popularity among far-left factions. Recent events, notably the attacks in Israel on October 7, have contributed to increased support for the party, doubling its membership.

However, the rapid influx of new members raises concerns among longtime supporters, as polling indicates a significant shift in values and policies. Traditional party members fear that many of these newcomers may hold views that diverge from those typical of the party’s historical base. Discussions around party rules, leadership, and policies could take unexpected directions given the new membership’s positions.

Interestingly, there is a noticeable demographic shift within Die Linke, as most new members are younger and predominantly female, which has lowered the average age of the party. The implications of this shift—particularly for a party that has historically advocated for increased immigration—haven’t fully settled in yet, leading to questions about the party’s future direction.

The traditional leadership has expressed concerns about the new members’ apparent lack of support for Israel’s right to exist, a stance that contrasts sharply with the post-war legacy in Germany, where anti-Semitism has been a social taboo. Yet, as the conversation evolves, it seems unclear how this will play out in shaping the party’s future.