German Chancellor Slams Erdogan's Absurd Accusations of Fascism Against Israel Ahead of Controversial Visit

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany has dismissed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's accusation of fascism against Israel as "absurd" during a press conference. Scholz's statement comes just days before Erdogan's scheduled visit to Berlin, where he will meet with Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Scholz emphasized that Israel is a democracy that upholds human rights and acts in accordance with international law. He firmly rejected the allegations made by Erdogan, who had questioned Israel's legitimacy, citing its own alleged fascism.

However, Erdogan's visit to Germany has been met with controversy due to his criticism of Israel's actions in the recent conflict with Hamas and his characterization of Hamas as liberators fighting for their land. Erdogan has accused Israel of committing war crimes during its heavy bombardments of Gaza, resulting in a high death toll. Despite the tensions surrounding Erdogan's visit, Scholz's spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, emphasized the importance of engaging in dialogue and making progress on various issues, even with difficult partners. Following his trip to Berlin, Erdogan has plans to visit Egypt and host Iran's president in the coming weeks.

Additionally, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed that Erdogan will visit Greece on December 7, building on the progress made in Greek-Turkish relations following a rare meeting between the two leaders in July at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Mitsotakis expressed hopes for further progress in Greek-Turkish rapprochement during Erdogan's visit to Athens, highlighting the positive results achieved in recent months. In summary, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany has dismissed Erdogan's accusations of fascism against Israel as baseless, asserting Israel's commitment to human rights and international law.

Despite controversy surrounding Erdogan's visit, German officials underscore the importance of maintaining dialogue with difficult partners. Erdogan's visit to Germany is part of a broader itinerary that includes trips to Egypt, Greece, and a planned meeting with Iran's president. Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis anticipates capitalizing on the progress made in Greek-Turkish relations during Erdogan's visit to Athens.