Current sectionIsrael NewsHaaretz TodayHaaretz Today Germany's left-wing parties have largely defused the political volatility of the Gaza war and Israeli-Palestinian conflict, allowing them to campaign on domestic issues such as the rising cost of living – and gain in the polls. U.S. Democrats could take noteShare to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeVera Weidenbach08:39 PM • August 30 2026 IDTThe streets of Berlin are covered these days with campaign posters, as are the walls and roadsides of the two East German states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The scene has been set for the three state elections slated to take place in September.Loading...Click the alert icon to follow topics:Haaretz Today NewsletterCommentsLoading...In the NewsIn the News: Live UpdatesWest BankChief RabbiGaza Militias El-Sayed NetanyahuOfer WinterRoger WatersPollHaQuizHaaretz PodcastPalestinian Attacked by Settlers Freed After Month of Detention, in Rare ReleaseFormer Hostage Whose Family Was Murdered on October 7 to Host Memorial CeremonyTwo Israeli Teens Charged With Spying for Iran, Photographing Shopping MallsAfter Weeks of Attacks, Palestinian Family Evicted by Order Applying to SettlersMasked Israeli Settlers Attack NBC News Crew in West BankRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIHasan Piker Talks Hamas, anti-Zionism and Why Americans Are Fed Up With Israel'Israel Is Sending Militias to Commit War Crimes – and I Have to Protect Them'Israeli Court Acquits Man of Assaulting Nun in Jerusalem's Old CityPoll: Likud Sinks to 19 Seats as New Right-wing Party Falls Below ThresholdJewish Space Lasers? Israel Wants 'Rods From God'Ben-Gvir's Ambush Shook Netanyahu – and Unleashed a War for Right-wing Votes