Berlin Drops Lawsuit Against Abbas for Holocaust Comments, Sparks Controversy

Berlin prosecutors have announced that they will not pursue a criminal case against Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas for his comments on the Holocaust during a visit to Germany last year. While Abbas's comments were deemed to amount to inciting racial hatred, he is protected by diplomatic immunity. The investigation was launched following two complaints accusing Abbas of relativizing the Holocaust during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Abbas had accused Israel of committing 50 "Holocausts" against Palestinians since 1947.

The comments drew condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and widespread criticism. The Berlin prosecutor's office emphasized that while Abbas enjoys immunity, his comments violated German law. German authorities believed Abbas was entitled to diplomatic immunity as he was visiting Germany as the representative of the Palestinian Authority, despite Germany not officially recognizing Palestine as a country. The decision to drop the lawsuit against Abbas has caused controversy, as his remarks were seen as trivializing and distorting the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.

However, the Attorney General of the State of Berlin concluded that Abbas's goal was to shed light on what he perceives as crimes committed by the Israeli army against the Palestinian people. The PA Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the drop of the lawsuit against Abbas, stating that his intention was to highlight the injustice faced by Palestinians. No official statement has been released by German authorities regarding the case.