Erdogan got here below fireplace in Germany for his criticism of Israel’s conflict in opposition to Hamas in Gaza.
Berlin:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned on a go to to Germany Friday that he noticed all faiths as equal and rejected ideas that his assaults on Israel had anti-Semitic undertones.
The Turkish chief was making a delicate go to to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz which have been overshadowed by the hovering civilian toll of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Erdogan got here below fireplace in Germany for his criticism of Israel’s conduct within the conflict, which was triggered by unprecedented Hamas assaults on October 7 that Israel mentioned killed round 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, and noticed 239 taken hostage.
The loss of life toll in Gaza has hit 11,500 individuals, most of them civilians and together with hundreds of kids, in accordance with Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry.
Erdogan redoubled his criticism of Israel on Friday, arguing that “capturing hospitals or killing youngsters doesn’t exist within the Torah”.
He additionally defended himself in opposition to costs of anti-Semitism.
“For us, there needs to be no discrimination between Jews, Christians and Muslims within the area. I’ve fought in opposition to anti-Semitism,” Erdogan mentioned throughout a joint media look with Scholz.
“I’m a pacesetter who’s main this battle.”
However he additionally appeared to recommend that Germany — a rustic the place anti-Semitism is unlawful due to Berlin’s historic obligations over the Holocaust — was restricted in its skill to talk freely concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“I communicate freely as a result of we don’t owe Israel something. We didn’t undergo the Holocaust,” Erdogan mentioned, suggesting Germany carried a “psychological debt”.
“If we have been in debt, we couldn’t discuss so freely. However those that are in debt can not discuss freely,” he mentioned.
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