Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called Israeli Prime Minister Jair Lapid after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Holocaust scandal. At the start of the conversation, the chancellor once again rejected and condemned Abbas’ statements, Lapid’s office said on Thursday after the conversation. Therefore, it was important for Scholz to clarify this personally and publicly. Abbas’ statements are unbearable and completely unacceptable to him personally and the entire federal government. According to Scholz Lapid, keeping alive the memory of the Shoah’s disruption of civilization is a permanent responsibility of this and every federal government. Lapid is the son of a Holocaust survivor.
According to Israeli information, both emphasized the importance of Israel-Germany relations and agreed to continue cooperation in various areas. A meeting is also planned for the near future. No further information was given on a possible date.
During a visit to Berlin on Tuesday, Abbas accused Israel of several “Holocausts” against the Palestinians, sparking outrage. “Israel has committed 50 massacres in 50 Palestinian sites from 1947 to today,” Abbas told a news conference with Chancellor Scholz, adding: “50 massacres, 50 holocausts.”
The chancellor did not respond to this at the press conference and only later clearly distanced himself from the statements. The fact that Scholz did not immediately contradict the statement was widely criticized.
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