In Berlin, Erdogan links German support of Israel in Gaza to Holocaust guilt
Kyiv • UNN
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked Germany's support for Israel in the war in the Gaza Strip to a sense of guilt over the Holocaust, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germany's commitment to Israel's right to self-defense
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested on Friday that Germany supported Israel in the Gaza war because of guilt over the Holocaust, and pointed to a contrast with Turkey, which he said could speak impartially, Reuters reported, UNNwrote.
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The Israeli-Palestinian war should not be evaluated through the psychology of obligation. I speak freely because we owe Israel nothing.
Those who feel obligated to Israel cannot speak freely. We did not go through the Holocaust process, we do not have such a situation, because our respect for humanity is different
Earlier this week, Erdogan saidthat Israel is a "terrorist state" that is committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
"Erdogan's comment in Berlin touched on the very essence of Germany's postwar identity, which is based on a deep atonement for the Holocaust," the newspaper noted.
Scholz did not respond directly to Erdogan's remarks, but reaffirmed Germany's commitment to Israel's right to self-defense.
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If you know Germany, you know that our solidarity with Israel is beyond question.
Israel has the right to self-defense. At the same time, all lives are equally valuable, and the suffering in Gaza saddens us
Erdogan's trip was his first visit to Germany in four years. Erdogan, whose party is facing key local elections next year, could use Scholz's support to modernize Turkey's customs union with the European Union and visa-free travel for Turks to the EU, the newspaper writes.
Scholz, who is dealing with a court rulingthat blew a 60 billion euro hole in the government budget, a coalition dispute over the economy and rising immigration, is said to need Ankara's help in curbing migration to the EU.
At the same time, the two leaders reportedly sought to emphasize areas of agreement, including the importance of their economic ties and support for the grain export agreement with Ukraine.
Scholz refused to answer the question whether he would approve the sale of 40 Eurofighter combat aircraft that Turkey wants. His approval is required because Germany is a member of the British-French-Spanish consortium that manufactures the aircraft.
Erdogan said he could go elsewhere if Scholz does not agree.
"We can buy fighter jets in many other places," Erdogan said.
Berlin would also reportedly like to see Turkey finally approve Sweden's accession to NATO. Although Erdogan has dropped his objections, the Turkish parliament has not yet ratified Sweden's membership.
