WDR defends journalist Georg Restle against antisemitism allegations

WDR journalist Georg Restle is facing intense criticism following a post on X regarding the migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Restle shared an excerpt from the US publication ‘The Nation’ which suggested that the influx of migrants was part of a ‘US-israel-Moroccan alliance’ intended to weaken progressive European governments and undermine international law.

Felix Schotland, a member of the WDR Broadcasting Council and the board of the Cologne Synagogue Community, filed a formal complaint with WDR Program Director Andrea Schafarczyk. Schotland argued that such statements, published without sufficient context or distance, could ‘sustainably damage the trust in the journalistic independence and credibility of the WDR’ and gave the impression of a conspiracy-driven geopolitical narrative.

Restle, who serves as the head of the ARD studio in Nairobi, has since admitted it was a ‘mistake’ to post the quote without commentary. He explicitly denied adopting the views as his own or formulating them himself, and he has rejected allegations of spreading antisemitism. The WDR has expressed full confidence in Restle’s personal integrity and has defended him against what it described as ‘offensive attacks’.

The controversy coincides with broader tensions in the region, including reports of disinformation on social media platforms like TikTok and Meta influencing migration movements, and increased border controls between Italy and Spain.